No doubt, spray painting uPVC elements is a great way to bring them back to life. But jumping into it without proper guidance will only lead you to into a brick wall.
Before you undertake the uPVC window painting process (either as a DIY person or an expert), it’s important to take steps to ensure a seamless finish. As the famous saying goes, failure to plan is planning to fail.
As such, proper preparation is key for enhancing the appearance of windows, doors, or any other uPVC surface. In this guide, we’ll go through seven tasks that need to be done before starting a uPVC spraying project.
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Checking the Surface
Before commencing the spraying process, it’s crucial to thoroughly examine the surface you intend to spray. You can start by keeping an eye out for cracks, holes, or any imperfections that could affect how the coating adheres.
Addressing these issues beforehand is vital in achieving an even finish. If there are any repairs or modifications, make sure to attend to them at this stage.
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Cleaning and Preparing the Surface
To ensure an exceptional uPVC spraying project, it’s important to start with a clean surface as your foundation. Therefore, it’s essential to clean the surface by removing grease, dirt, dust, and any existing coatings. You can use a mixture of water and mild detergent for most cases— which is applauded as an effective solution in preparing the surface for spraying.
However, if you’re dealing with stains that won’t budge, it might be worth considering a cleaner that contains solvents. However, at this point, you must ensure that the surface is completely dry before moving on.
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Preparing the Surface
To ensure that the uPVC coating adheres properly, it helps a lot to give the surface a light sanding.
Use fine-grit sandpaper to create a rough texture, which will help the coating stick better and last longer. After sanding, be sure to clean away any dust that may have accumulated during the process.
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Masking and Taping
When you want to give uPVC surfaces a new look with spray paint, you’ve got to be smart about masking and taping. Take care to tape off spots that should stay paint-free, like glass or handles. Use painter’s tape and plastic sheets to keep the paint only where you want it, so it looks professional.
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Choosing the Right Paint
Picking the paint for uPVC is a big deal. Think about colours, finishes, and how tough it needs to be. It’s smart to ask experts or suppliers for advice. They can help you choose the right paint that matches what you want and works well.
Selecting the right paint is particularly important if your uPVC is outside because of the level of exposure to he elements. So, keep that in mind at all times.
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Ensure Proper Ventilation
Keep the air flowing so you don’t breathe in toxic gases. If you’re indoors, open a window and maybe wear a mask.
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Try a Test First
Don’t rush! Before you go all out, test the paint on a hidden spot.
This helps you see how it sticks, if the colour is right, and if you need to change how you’re spraying. Testing first or doing a patch test helps you decide if you are doing it right before you do the whole thing.
In the end, getting uPVC surfaces to look good with spray paint needs adequate planning. As we mentioned earlier, remember to start by checking if the surface is clean before applying the coat.
Follow these simple and practical steps to make your windows, doors, and other uPVC surfaces look brand new.