External 1930s quarry tile window sill

JBroadstairs

Can anyone advise how to paint and what type of paint I need to smarten up these tiles? Hadn't realised how bad they'd got until I looked at the photo. We've been here 9 years and never painted them before. I'm a basic DIYer/home schooling mum so be kind 😁

Doozergirl

It would be much nicer to strip them instead.  

FreeBear

Doozergirl said: It would be much nicer to strip them instead.  

But with uPVC windows, using a hot air gun or chemical stripper is out. A fine sanding block would get rid of most of the paint without causing too much damage if done carefully.

JBroadstairs

Thanks. I will attempt to sand them and see what they look like!

TELLIT01

Product sold a 'doorstep paint' will do the job and will be extremely hard wearing.  Probably only have to do it once.

George_Michael

FreeBear said:

But with uPVC windows, using a hot air gun or chemical stripper is out. 

You can get some chemical paint strippers that are uPVC friendly:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Biostrip-Stripper-remover-solution-effortlessly/dp/B00B4WK17K
Amazon don't have stock at the moment but I'm just using their site to anow an example.

Mutton_Geoff

I agree with the strip back to original. Mask the along bottom of the window frame and use something like this Wickes stuff. The reviews are dreadful, probably because it isn't a patch on Nitromors which is now banned, but I've had a lot of success with it. Just stripped years of varnish off an old oak front door with it. Make sure you wear gloves. Scrape off as much residue as you can then clean the rest off with a metal scourer and hot soapy water.

https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Paint+Varnish-Stripper---1L/p/155054