Paint: Cutting In on Window Glass

fitzgerald99

I have some really ugly window putty work on the outside of a window which I cannot reach to alter ... when viewed from within the room (i.e. looking out of the window) it looks bad. So, when I painted the inside of the window this week I painted into the glass with the paint about 1cm and it covered everything up nicely. Basically, it has formed a sharp white border at the edge of the glass.

Trouble is, the paint has formed a film that comes loose very easily and was easily damaged when the window was cleaned this morning. I applied:

2 coats of Zinsser BIN which the manufacturer claims will adhere well to glass (this has NOT been my experience ... it adheres but also comes right off with great ease ... by no means a solid solution to painting glass)

2 coats of Dulux Trade High Gloss on top of the BIN.

I didn't use a gloss undercoat under the gloss, but the undercoat would not solve this problem, because the BIN itself is coming off the glass easily, and BIN is supposed to adhere to glass better than gloss undercoat anyway.

It is clear that this film is not going to last long. Is there any other paint I can use that will firmly stick to the glass for a long-lasting solution? Or, in other words, what is the best paint to use to get a solid opaque colour on to glass? [Spraying is *not* an option]

Thanks.

dld2s

Have you tried using a little bit of sandpaper on the glass to see if it will provide a "key" for the paint to adhere to? could be worth a try

keystone

fitzgerald99 wrote: »

I have some really ugly window putty work on the outside of a window which I cannot reach to alter ... when viewed from within the room (i.e. looking out of the window) it looks bad. So, when I painted the inside of the window this week I painted into the glass with the paint about 1cm and it covered everything up nicely. Basically, it has formed a sharp white border at the edge of the glass.

OK sounds nice and a good approach.

Trouble is, the paint has formed a film that comes loose very easily and was easily damaged when the window was cleaned this morning.

How soon after painting are you trying to clean the windows?

2 coats of Zinsser BIN which the manufacturer claims will adhere well to glass (this has NOT been my experience ... it adheres but also comes right off with great ease ... by no means a solid solution to painting glass)

Well it will once it has cured. Dry doesn't mean cured completely. As an example emulsion paint takes 30 days to cure properly. IMHO One coat would have been sufficient.

2 coats of Dulux Trade High Gloss on top of the BIN.

OK How did you key the first coat of gloss for the second without scratching the glass? One coat will prolly do actually.

I didn't use a gloss undercoat under the gloss, but the undercoat would not solve this problem, because the BIN itself is coming off the glass easily, and BIN is supposed to adhere to glass better than gloss undercoat anyway.

You don't need to but you could have undercoated straight to the glass or indeed glossed straight to the glass. The glass would need to be scrupulously clean, don't do it in this weather and really give it a chance to cure.

It is clear that this film is not going to last long. Is there any other paint I can use that will firmly stick to the glass for a long-lasting solution? Or, in other words, what is the best paint to use to get a solid opaque colour on to glass?

I believe it will last better than you think it will once it has cured properly.

[Spraying is *not* an option]

Agree.

Cheers

fitzgerald99

dld2s wrote: »

Have you tried using a little bit of sandpaper on the glass to see if it will provide a "key" for the paint to adhere to? could be worth a try

Sorry for late reply - hectic xmas. Thanks ... will try the sandpaper that next time ... sounds sensible. Am going to do in better weather as the glass is constantly sweating through condensation now.

fitzgerald99

keystone wrote: »

How soon after painting are you trying to clean the windows?

I think like a day or two after the paint was touch dry. Too soon I guess.

Well it will once it has cured. Dry doesn't mean cured completely. As an example emulsion paint takes 30 days to cure properly. IMHO One coat would have been sufficient.

Initially, I tried with just one coat of gloss directly onto the glass, but in the morning, the sunlight clearly came through the paint in patches, so I thought I needed better opacity, so I used a couple of coats of BIN and then a couple of coats of gloss ... probably overkill but it did block out the sun nicely.

OK How did you key the first coat of gloss for the second without scratching the glass?

You've both mentioned "key" and I'm now feeling like the true amateur that I am I didn't key between any coats (neither BIN nor Gloss). Was this important? If so, how do I key the Glass/BIN/Gloss?

don't do it in this weather and really give it a chance to cure.

There is a lot of condensation in the room and the window (single pane) is always sweating when it's cold outside like now. I think the window got moist when the paint was drying and that reduced its adhesion. I'll try again when it is drier.

Thanks.

nickj_2

if the window is bone dry the paint should stck to the glass without sanding the glas - iw ould leave it for now and do it in the spring when you can be sure that the glass is dry and leave the window open -

Handyman502

If you have wooden beeding on the inside, you could consider removing it and replace with a slightly wider beeding!