WINDOW TIPS

First remove the lock, it's four screws and worth the effort. Next, rotate the sashes by pulling the top sash down as far as it will go and raising the bottom sash as high as it will go (up past the top sash). Confused yet?... see figure #2. 

Rotating the sashes is the only way to gain access to the horizontal strip that is just below the lock at the bottom of the top sash.
 
The sashes may be painted shut, the top sash in particular. You may need to run the corner edge of our stiff putty knife down the sides and across the top of the sashes to break the old paint loose. Don't forget that the exterior paint could also cause the sashes to stick. If the putty knife doesn't do the trick, try bumping the top sash upwards using your palms at the bottom of the sash. Use oven mitts to prevent bruising or injuring your hands.

I've found our clean, empty gallon pail . We can use it as a paint "pot". It is not a good idea to paint out of a full gallon bucket or a quart can. I've poured about a quart of paint into the pot.

All we need now is our trim brush, a clean rag, our one inch stiff putty knife, our duster (disposable three inch brush) and an old bed sheet. The bed sheet will work great as a drop cloth under the window. Do not use plastic, plastic is fine to cover furniture and the like but I do not recommend it for floors, it can be slippery. Plastic will not absorb paint drops to prevent tracking via our little feets. Bed sheets are better.

Do not tape off the glass, it will not do what you think it will and it can cause a lot of problems.
We don't need problems.


WINDOW TIPS  (continued)

When painting almost anything, it is a good idea to start towards the center and work outward. This will help keep forearms, palms, and fingers out of the wet paint. With that in mind, we can start painting.

Dust off the entire window (with the duster brush),   Dip the paint brush into the paint to a depth of about one quarter of the bristles length. Tap the brush a couple of times against the rim of the pot, while keeping the bristles out of the paint but inside the pot. While painting mullions you also need to rake both sides of the bristles up and across the rim of the pot. This will remove excess paint and compress the bristles. Mullions do not require a lot of paint or a heavily loaded paint brush.
                                        figure # 2
                                     Rotated sash
WINDOW TIPS (continued)

Do not be afraid to paint. Do not try to be too careful. There is no mistake that you can make here that can not be easily corrected. Your lines will be truer and your paint will flow smoother if you just relax.

We will start painting the raised bottom sash. The starting point is the top center mullion.

Start in the top corner of the left side. Establish a paint line to the glass with the edge of the brush. Pull the line downward with a smooth stroke, as you approach the bottom corner of the mullion rotate the brush slightly counter clockwise and away from the window allowing the bristles to part and continue into the bottom corner. Continue across, painting all the left sides of the vertical mullions of the top row. Drop down to the next row and repeat the process until all the left sides are completed. Repeat the order with the right sides of the vertical mullions.

Next, paint the tops of the horizontal mullions, moving across, then down to the next row. Repeat for the bottoms of the horizontal mullions. With the mullions complete we can paint the face side of the top, sides and bottom of this sash.

Next in line are the mullions at the bottom of the lowered top sash. You may not be able to paint the entire mullion, but paint what is exposed.

Now for that hatefull horizontal strip at the bottom. Paint it as you would a horizontal mullion and also paint the face of the strip, but not the bottom ,the bottom should already be painted with the exterior color,  let's keep it that way.                 (see figure # 3)

There is a channel at the top of the window frame into which the top sash fits. Paint it now.
Next we can rotate our sashes back to their normal position stopping short by about a half inch from the stool and the top.
 
With the top sash in this position, and exposed, (see figure #4) we can continue painting the mullions and sash. The final strip to be painted on the sashes is the top edge of the bottom sash (where the lock is located).With the sashes complete, next on the agenda are the inside edges of the casing, followed by the outside edges of the casing and then the casings themselves.

Next in line is the apron, and finally the stool.   

  
figure # 3
figure # 4
                            
Do not be concerned if you tag the window glass with the paint or your paint lines are a bit unruly. It may take a window or two to get your brushing technique down pat. After the paint has dried a single edged razor blade will remove the tags and tame those beastly paint lines.

Do not over paint or be over careful. Remember, smooth relaxed strokes will yield the best results.

                                     
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Roger Woodward is a painting contractor with over twenty five years in the Painting Trade. Over the years R. Woodward & Co. has established a reputation for high quality workmanship, honesty and fairness. Roger's professional and sometimes innovative approach to the house painting craft has garnered him the respect of his fellow Craftsmen and provided a customer loyalty that is seldom seen. Roger is also the Founder and Publisher of Painter Forum,  an outstanding free home painting resource for DIY and professional house painters.
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