Many focus on decorating the inside of our homes, often forgetting about the outside. Giving your window frames a fresh coat of paint is a straightforward task for the enthusiastic DIYer and can significantly enhance your home's appearance! If your uPVC windows are beginning to show their age, here’s the complete guide on how you can upgrade them with paint.
By Alex- 20th Oct 2025
- 3min read
uPVC is durable and long-lasting – the perfect choice for window frames! However, over time, they can become discoloured and a little sad-looking, which is where uPVC paint comes in.
uPVC is a little trickier to paint than other materials, but not by much. Simply by following these steps, you can give your window frames a new lease of life and even a new colour scheme. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes to the look of your home!
Prepping the windows for painting
When it comes to painting uPVC windows, preparation is key. The nature of uPVC means it naturally repels most things that come into contact with it (including most paint!), so putting the work in now will yield a much better result.
Step 1: clean
Clean the frames with soap and water, making sure to get into all the nooks and crannies. While you’re here, why not give the glass a good scrub too? We’ve got some tips on how to get a streak-free finish in our blog: how to clean windows and glass.
Step 2: sanding
Use fine-grit sandpaper all over the window frames to remove the uPVC outer coating and give the paint something to stick to. Don’t go too hard! Wipe off the resulting dust with a damp microfibre cloth and leave your frames to dry fully.
Step 3: use masking tape
uPVC paint is sticky stuff, and you don’t want to risk splashing any on the windowpane or exterior wall of your home. Apply masking tape along the edges of your window and brickwork to keep them safe. For an added barrier, stick newspaper on your windowpanes to protect them fully.
Top tip: when you’re doing your upstairs windows, use a ladder on a stable surface and always have someone else there with you. Safety first!
How to paint uPVC windows
Once the prep is out of the way, it’s time to get painting!
Most uPVC paints don’t require a primer, but if you’re unsure, there’s nothing wrong with applying an exterior primer to the frames first to lay a good foundation.
Applying uPVC paint is as easy as brushing it on, using long, even strokes to evenly apply the paint over the whole surface of the frame. Be careful not to overload your brush with too much, or it could drip onto other surfaces. Let the first coat dry thoroughly for a few hours before going over it with a second coat – it can sometimes take two or three coats to get the desired colour, so take your time and trust the process.
You may think that a warm, sunny day is the perfect time to paint your windows, but the heat could cause the paint to crack. So this job is ideal for spring or autumn, before it gets too hot or too cold.
For all your other outdoor painting needs, check out our exterior paint collection on wilko.com for fence paint, masonry, and more.
We’d love to see your before-and-afters; get in touch with us on: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & X.
