Mission brown and silver aluminium frames date a house instantly. Replacing windows is expensive and disruptive; painting the frames is the middle path that more Melbourne homeowners are taking. Done with the right system, it holds up well.
Why preparation is everything on aluminium
Aluminium is smooth and non-porous, and factory finishes are slick. Paint won't grip it without:
- A thorough clean. Oxidation, grime and silicone residue all have to come off. This alone decides most of the outcome.
- Sanding or abrasion. The surface gets keyed so the primer has something to hold.
- A specialist metal primer. Standard primers peel off aluminium. An etch or adhesion primer made for non-ferrous metal is the step that makes the system work.
- Quality topcoats. Exterior-grade acrylic or enamel in your chosen colour, applied in thin, even coats.
What colours work
Charcoal, monument and black are the popular updates - they make frames visually disappear and suit both brick and render. Lighter tones work too; the main thing is choosing a colour that suits the whole facade, because frames, gutters, fascia and the front door all read together.
Painted frames vs replacement
Painting costs a fraction of new windows and takes days, not weeks. It won't change the glass, the seals or how the windows open - if frames are corroded through, warped or leaking, replacement is the honest answer. For sound frames that are simply the wrong colour, painting is usually the smart money.
How long does it last?
With correct preparation and primers, years of service is a fair expectation on frames that aren't in constant harsh exposure. Like any exterior coating, sun-facing elevations age faster.
Sprayed versus brushed finishes
Spraying gives the factory-smooth finish most people picture when they think about painted aluminium - no brush marks, even film, clean lines at the glass. Brushing and rolling can work for small jobs but rarely looks as crisp on broad frame faces. Either way, the glass, seals and surrounding walls are masked completely; the overspray risk is managed with preparation, not luck.
Sliding doors and tracks
Sliding door frames get the same treatment as window frames, but the tracks and rollers are masked off, not painted. Paint in a sliding track is a maintenance problem you don't want. Hardware - handles, locks, flyscreens - comes off where practical and goes back on after.
What drives the cost
Frame count and size, access (ground floor versus double height), the condition of the existing finish, and how much masking the job needs. Frames on a rendered upper storey take more setup than a ground-floor window. Photos usually give us enough to tell you what's involved before a site visit.
Looking after painted frames
Treat them like a car finish: wash down with mild detergent and water a couple of times a year, avoid abrasive cleaners and scourers, and don't let garden sprays or bore water sit on the coating. Looked after, a well-prepared and primed frame finish stays sharp for years.
How long does a frame repaint last?
Honestly: a properly prepared and primed frame repaint lasts well, but it is not a factory powder-coat baked on in an oven. Expect years of good service from a quality system, with the sunny faces and the frames that get handled daily (sliding doors) showing wear first. Care is simple - wash with mild detergent, no abrasives, no solvent cleaners. Treated gently, a frame repaint is the cheapest visual transformation on the whole house.
The short version
Painting aluminium frames is a genuine alternative to replacement when the frames are sound: thorough cleaning, keyed surface, specialist metal primer, quality topcoats. Most of the cost and most of the result is in the preparation - the same as every other part of painting, just less forgiving.
Security doors, screens and tracks
Frames rarely come alone - there are security doors, flyscreens, tracks and hardware in the same opening. Screens and doors can be painted in the same system for a matched result, but tracks and rollers get masked, not painted: paint in a sliding track is how a smooth door becomes a grinding one. Masking discipline is what separates a frame job from a frame problem.
Thinking about updating your window frames? Call 0420 596 677 - we can usually tell you what's involved from a few photos.