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Did you know that around 85% of houses in Edinburgh are fitted with UPVC windows? Although they were invented in the 1930s, it wasn't until the 1980s that they became popular, when millions of homes were fitted with them.
Now you'll see them on most residential properties in Edinburgh, almost always in white, although the trend is shifting to more colourful options these days.
As attractive as they look when newly fitted, they begin to look dull after a while. Even though you wash them down, they never seem to recapture the same gleaming white finish they once did.
So, what can you do to revitalise them?
Homeowners across Edinburgh are waking up to the benefits of having their UPVC windows spray painted.
Sketch Spray UPVC window painting services will upgrade your window frames, making them look better than they did when first fitted. What's more, when you paint UPVC you can preserve it and prolong its life significantly.
Want to discover more? You'll find everything you need to know right here.
As stunning as they looked when new, UPVC windows don't stay looking pristine forever, especially if they are white. While some materials improve with age, the same can't be said of your UPVC window frames.
Ultraviolet light from the sun attacks the surface layer, causing it to break down and turn yellow. The surface becomes rough and pitted, allowing dirt and grime to become lodged in tiny holes.
Mould and algae often gain a foothold, discolouring the UPVC even more. Scrubbing with hot soapy water can remove the worst of it, but it will soon return.
Some people resort to more drastic measures, cleaning their window frames and door frames with bleach and harsh chemicals. Sadly, this won't work and will actually make it worse as they break down the surface even more. Anyone who tries this will probably notice dark brown spots appearing along with the yellow staining.
Although they can last between 10 and 35 years, the average lifespan of UPVC window and door frames is 20 years.
Compared with timber (around 60 years) and aluminium (45 years), it doesn't seem as good an investment as we've been led to believe.
However, the true lifespan largely depends on local weather patterns, the quality of the materials, and whether they are maintained regularly.
UPVC frames are still a sound investment, providing protection from the elements, insulating your home, and looking great.
And you can extend their lifespan considerably with UPVC spray painting.
In simple terms, it's the process of coating existing UPVC windows and doors with a specialist paint to restore their colour and prolong their lifespan.
However, it takes a skilled hand to perform the task satisfactorily and achieve a smooth, even finish. Sketch Spray offers a professional service that aims for perfection each time with minimum disruption to your daily life. Here's how we achieve this:
Before any work begins, we will need to carry out a thorough inspection of the site to assess the state of all surfaces to be sprayed.
This is an essential step to ensure the success of the project. The Sketch Spray paint technicians will ensure that the site is prepared correctly before work goes ahead.
Our highly-trained and fully insured staff will inspect the working area to identify any potential hazards and cover or remove any objects that need protection, such as outdoor furniture, plant pots, ornaments etc.
Any damage must be repaired by a competent professional before the spray paint is applied. Small cracks can be fixed with a suitable plastic resin filler to provide a flawless finish.
Any tiny scrapes and cracks will be covered by the paint, but it is essential that the UPVC surface is in a good state before we begin as this allows us to offer a guarantee.
All areas to be painted are given a thorough clean-down with a specialist detergent followed by an industrial degreaser solvent to remove all traces of dirt and oil.
Next, the surface is lightly sanded to provide better adhesion when the UPVC paint is applied. The frames are then wiped over to remove any dust and residue from sanding.
Anything not to be painted is masked off, including the glass and any fixtures or fittings that can't be removed. Your bricks and masonry will also be protected. We only use high-quality waterproof masking tape that won't absorb the paint.
If the UPVC is a dark colour that is being sprayed a light colour, we may use a primer to ensure a perfect finish.
The paint technicians now need to set up the professional spray painting machine. The paint is formulated specifically for each job, and it has to be loaded into the spraying equipment.
Your Sketch Spray paint specialists will then apply the spray to the walls, usually a minimum of two coats, depending on the colour.
The paint takes about thirty minutes to become touch dry (it will take a further 24 hours or so to set fully). The team will check the work over to ensure that it meets our high standards, then they will remove the masking and tidy away all equipment and supplies, leaving the working area neat and tidy.
After a final check to make sure everything is in order, our team will leave you to enjoy the results.
Although other methods have their place for certain jobs, and Sketch Spray paint technicians are experienced in all of these, spray painting is ideal for UPVC products.
It is possible to paint UPVC windows and doors with a brush or roller, although neither is as quick or efficient as spray painting. The quicker the process, the lower the labour costs, which is a bonus for our customers.
Also, spray paint covers the UPVC surface evenly, producing a beautiful, durable finish.
Sketch Spray UPVC window painters are highly proficient in using this method and will apply their skills to provide a high-quality finish every time.
Yes, without a doubt. Spray painting UPVC windows and doors is a fantastic way of upgrading your home.
Here are some of the key benefits:
Whether you are planning to sell up or not, it makes sense to invest in your home and increase its value when possible.
A beautiful-looking house will always be worth more than one that's been neglected and looks run down. UPVC spray painting is one way of doing this, and your neighbours may even thank you as a well-kept area always commands higher house prices in general.
First impressions matter. A prospective buyer is far more likely to take notice of your house if it has beautiful windows and doors. And they are more likely to offer a figure closer to the asking price.
In fact, it gives you the upper hand. Buyers may use your old, faded white UPVC windows as a means of beating you down on the price, suggesting that your home needs work.
You can pre-empt this by having your UPVC windows and doors spray painted in one of the popular colours of the day, like black or anthracite grey. This gives you the edge, taking away a key bargaining chip in the negotiating process.
Even if you're not selling your home, you'll have a house to be proud of, and that's always a bonus.
The average cost of replacing standard casement UPVC windows is between £500 and £1250 per window and even as much as £3,000.
In comparison, UPVC spray painting a four-bedroom semi-detached house would cost approximately £2,500*, including eight window frames, front door, back door, and all gutters and fascia boards.
(*This is a rough estimate, contact us to get a free quote that's suited to your property and requirements.)
Considering that it could cost between £10,000 and £25,000 to replace the window frames only, UPVC spray painting makes a lot of sense, financially speaking.
As the owner of a property portfolio, landlords need to minimise expenditure while making their properties attractive to tempt tenants.
Spray painting UPVC windows smartens up any building without the expense of replacing the window and door frames. You save money and the tenant gets a beautiful home, so it's a win-win.
Leaving the cost of new windows aside, one major benefit of spray painting UPVC windows is that there is relatively little mess when compared with replacing them.
Replacing UPVC windows is a noisy, dusty process as the old windows will need to be removed. While it should only take a day or two for a competent double-glazing team to install new windows, it can take longer in some cases.
Also, you may have to wait around eight weeks for your windows to be delivered after you order them.
Some architectural styles look dated these days, and while having white UPVC windows fitted can improve the look, UPVC window spraying can modernise your home.
But why stop there? As well as recolouring UPVC, Sketch Spray can change the colour of your exterior walls and completely transform the appearance of your house.
If this appeals to you, don't hesitate to contact us for further advice and information.
On average, UPVC spray paint will last around 10 years before needing attention, although it can last longer. This means that you can extend the lifespan of your UPVC windows and doors by at least a decade, saving you the expense of having them replaced earlier.
However, this only applies if the work has been carried out by competent professionals, like Sketch Spray, using quality materials.
Cheap, second-rate workmanship will result in an inferior finish that will fail well before time, exposing your UPVC to the elements and incurring the extra cost of putting it right.
It's not impossible, but rarely advisable.
Unless you have previous spray painting experience, the right equipment, and you're willing to do the necessary preparation, it's best to avoid tackling this job yourself. You'll also need a lot of patience!
Painting UPVC windows isn't easy as this plastic wasn't designed to hold paint. Although you could use a brush or roller, these aren't always successful; brush marks are a common problem, and rollers don't always leave a good finish.
You'll also need the right paint. As UPVC isn't designed to be painted, you'll need an acrylic-based paint that will stick to the surface. While these are available to the public, we have access to the best paint possible and at trade prices. If you compromise on the quality of the paint, you risk getting poor results.
Overall, it's best to spray paint UPVC windows, but you need professional equipment to get the best results. Using a basic spray gun can be disastrous, you'll lose a lot of paint as it drifts away.
Using this equipment takes practice and skill, so it's always a good idea to get the experts to do the job.
Sketch Spray UPVC sprayers have the knowledge, experience and expertise to provide a professional service that delivers perfect results on every project.
Yes, we are happy to apply our expertise to all external UPVC items, including:
A UPVC garage door is a great option; there are so many interesting styles to choose from and they have enhanced security features.
The trouble is, the surface can look worn and dirty. If your garage doors are visible from the street, it doesn't present an attractive image.
Why not add your garage door into the project and have it painted the same colour as your window frames? This is a popular choice these days as homeowners like to tie the house and garage together as it gives the impression of a bigger property. Also, it just looks more pleasing to the eye as it offers more balance and continuity.
A conservatory is a handy extension to any house, providing extra room and a place to enjoy the sunshine, even on cooler days. It's a great space in which to relax or for entertaining guests.
Even so, conservatories face the same fate as your UPVC window frames, looking jaded and grimy after a few years due to damage from ultraviolet light.
You can transform your conservatory with UPVC spray painting, making it a place to be proud of once again.
Many homeowners are enjoying the current trend of combining outdoor and indoor living, with large patio or bi-fold doors that open out into the back garden area.
We can freshen these up for you when they start to look worn and faded. If you wish, we can spray them a different colour, inside and out. This gives the impression that they are new and were fitted in this colour. We can also replace the seal if necessary, using a colour that matches the paint.
This includes gutters, downpipes, fascia boards, barge boards and soffits.
Never underestimate these items, as they perform a very important role in protecting your home from the elements. If they become damaged, there's a risk that water will enter your walls and loft space, potentially causing mould and damp to spread.
Including these items in your UPVC spraying project will preserve and protect them, drastically reducing the risk of the issues mentioned above.
Any colour you wish! Your imagination is the only limit.
You can have anything from dark grey to bright red, and thousands of colours in between. Of course, you can choose to have your white UPVC windows resprayed the same colour, but we highly recommend that you take the opportunity to make a change - although it will stay bright for at least five years, white UPVC tends to show the dirt more easily.
Many people like the appeal of dark grey or brown UPVC windows, while others are going for vibrant orange or understated olive or sage green. It all depends on your personal taste and how well the colour matches the rest of the property. Certain tones compliment stone, while others look better against brick. Always bear in mind the colour of your roof as well.
Whatever colour scheme you have in mind, speak to our friendly advisors and they'll help you to get the perfect colour for your project. We can mix a colour especially to suit your taste.
Incidentally, if you want anthracite grey UPVC windows and decided to have new windows rather than have them spray painted, they will cost you up to 20% more than white ones. On the other hand, you'll save about 75% with UPVC window spraying. Once again, recolouring UPVC windows is definitely the cost-effective choice.
It isn't easy to suggest a precise UPVC spraying cost without knowing all the facts.
Much depends on exactly what you require; garage doors are large areas that will use more paint, and conservatories need a lot of preparation and intricate work, so these will naturally add to the overall cost.
The number of windows and doors, as well as their size, also has to be taken into consideration.
Sketch Spray insists on providing a safe working environment for all staff, meaning that scaffolding will be required in some cases to ensure a stable platform for our spray paint technicians. This will be factored into the final costs of any project.
When you've decided what you want to be included in your UPVC spray painting project, contact us to get a free quote.
Although we've explained the process and some of the issues concerning UPVC spray painting, you still may have some questions. This section is designed to cover these, but if there's anything else you wish to know please contact our friendly team and we'll do our very best to answer your queries.
While we do our utmost to accommodate our customers' wishes and schedules, we need to take the weather into account when planning any project. Ideally, UPVC spray painting should be undertaken on dry days with an ambient temperature and some cloud cover. Direct sunlight can cause the paint to dry too quickly, preventing a strong bond between the paint and the surface.
In theory, we can spray paint UPVC windows in any season, as long as it is dry - it is almost impossible to paint in wet weather unless the working area is undercover, as rain makes the paint run. In some cases, we can spray paint in cold conditions, although dew can form in temperatures below 8º C which affects the paint adversely.
Ideally, we suggest a range of between 11 and 24º C for optimum results. However, it is possible to paint UPVC windows in temperatures of up to 33º C.
We aim to cause as little disruption and inconvenience as possible. Where possible, we try to complete the entire job in one day. On average, it takes between one and four days.
Large houses or commercial properties may require a longer working time. It also depends on exactly whether we need to spray paint extra areas, such as conservatories and garage doors.
Spray painting UPVC windows, door frames, etc. as opposed to using brushes and rollers, allows us to cut the completion time dramatically.
No, there's no need to vacate the premises while the UPVC painters work. It would help if you keep pets and children away from the working area for safety's sake, but you are free to go about your daily life as far as is reasonably possible.
Ideally, we prefer at least one person to be present as we will need access to the property at various times throughout the day. However, if you need to go out our staff will need a key.
Someone will need to be present to sign off the work when it is completed, but other than this you can trust our team to work professionally and competently in your absence, respecting your privacy and your property at all times.
It would be a great help if you are able to remove any portable items from around the working areas, such as patio furniture, garden hoses, log piles, pot plants, kid's toys etc. as this will speed up the process and allow the team to get to work sooner.
However, you should only do this if you are fit and able-bodied - we would not wish any of our customers to risk injury or discomfort in order to do this task.
The same applies if you arrange for us to spray the interior. If you are able to, we would appreciate it if you could remove as much from the room as possible, but only if you are able to.
If you need help with this, please give us as much notice as possible.
In the vast majority of cases, we deal with older UPVC doors and windows, as these have become faded and grimy. While there is little need to renovate the new UPVC, some people choose to do so, and we respect this decision.
However, we strongly recommend that you wait at least 12 months before doing so. Newly fitted UPVC has a protective coating applied in the factory and this needs time to set and harden. Spray painting UPVC windows too soon will cause the paint to peel as it conflicts with the protective coating.
We offer a range of finishes; satin, matte or gloss. Most of our customers prefer the middle ground. Rather than opting for matte with its total lack of light reflection or the high sheen of gloss, they choose satin as it offers a pleasing balance of the two.
Sketch Spray UPVC window painters offer a professional service. We use the best equipment and paints in the industry and our technicians are highly-skilled.
We ensure that your window (and door) frames don't become stuck with paint by masking the working area extremely carefully. Also, we use a high degree of precision while UPVC spraying to eliminate overspray, runs and spills.
If you're unable to open your windows after a spray painting job, it's a sign of incompetent, unprofessional or inexperienced painters.
No, all work takes place on-site and your windows will stay in place. This is a fairly common misconception. In very rare cases, we may need to remove doors and windows if they have complex fittings that are difficult to cover or spray around. On the whole, though, we keep them in place and mask the surrounding area. Some of the fixtures may be removed but these will be replaced when the job is completed.
Our expertise extends to other materials, including kitchens, metal, PVC, cladding and composites. If you need more information about these services, call us today. We can completely transform the interior as well as the exterior of your home.
Many homeowners are choosing to respray their kitchens as you can save around 90% on the cost of replacing the cupboard doors. You also don't have the hassle of having the kitchen ripped out and new cabinets and doors fitted.
We don't set limits on our work. Whether our customers need a single UPVC door painting, or the full works (doors and windows, conservatory, garage door, plus fascias, boards and guttering), we are only too pleased to oblige.
No, the UPVC window spraying process uses two or three coats of extremely fine spray paint. Any textured effects will still be visible once the job is complete. In fact, in most cases, it actually enhances these details as you are able to see them more clearly.
We only use the best quality specialist paints that form a chemical bond with the UPVC surface. These are guaranteed by the manufacturer to last at least ten years before any cracks may appear. In many cases, the paint lasts well beyond this.
Also, the colours won't show any signs of fading for at least five years.
Listed buildings are protected by law, so you'll need to be absolutely certain that you have permission from the local authorities before going ahead. To do so without Listed Building Consent risks being on the wrong side of the law. As the legal owner of the property, you will be liable for any action the local authority takes.
If you live in a designated Conservation Area, it's best to check whether to go ahead as some colours may be restricted. The general rule here is that if you're not sure, seek advice! It's better to be certain rather than face the consequences later.
We have full confidence in our professional UPVC painting services, which is why all our work is covered by a ten-year guarantee. The specialist paints are also covered by a manufacturer's guarantee of ten years.
At Sketch Spray we take our responsibility to the environment seriously. Wherever possible, we use low-VOC paints that have minimal impact on the environment.
Our staff are highly-trained, so you can rest assured that there is no overspray that will drift into your home or onto your plants. Besides, it would not harm them if it somehow make its way there.
It's understandable to be concerned about the health of your family and pets. However, our specialist equipment and fully-competent painters make sure that the spray paint goes precisely where it is supposed to. And as stated above, it would not be harmful were you to come into contact with it.
No, absolutely not. Despite what you read online (usually on double-glazing company websites that want you to buy new ones), spray painting UPVC does not reduce its lifespan or damage it in any way.
The suggestion is that as the protective coating is sanded off, the UPVC is weakened and exposed to the elements and harmful UV rays.
However, this is not supported by the facts. While it's true that the protective coat is sanded down, the high-quality paint we use provides UV protection and is completely waterproof, forming a durable shield that guards the plastic against the elements.
In any case, the protective coating applied by the manufacturer will have broken down to some extent by the time you decide to engage UPVC window painters to revitalise your home.
If anything, painting UPVC windows strengthens them and extends their lifespan.
If all of the benefits we've pointed out aren't enough to convince you, there's another great reason why spray painting UPVC is an excellent idea: it's better for the environment.
As humanity wakes up to the dangers of being a throw-away society, recolouring UPVC windows is a fantastic way of reducing your reliance on plastic. Upcycling, recycling and repurposing are popular ways of lessening your impact on the planet, and every one of these actions, no matter how small, contributes positively in some way.
Painting UPVC windows falls into this category, adding to its impressive list of benefits.
Although a controversial subject, the facts are clear: UPVC is not the most sustainable option as 43% of its raw materials come from the petrochemical industry (crude oil). It can be recycled, but this doesn't always happen and much of it is discarded or incinerated which releases hazardous chemicals. Around 82% of UPVC ends up in landfill sites at the end of its lifespan. Only 3% is currently recycled.
As well as saving money on the cost of new windows, you will extend the life of your existing UPVC conservatory, doors and window frames by at least ten years. Just imagine how much less plastic would be needed if every householder chose spray painting over installing new units!
Do your UPVC doors and windows look past their best? Are you unhappy with their appearance and want to completely transform the outside of your home? Perhaps you want to change the colour scheme?
Don't hesitate to call Sketch Spray, your first choice for spray painting UPVC windows, doors, conservatories and all UPVC fittings in your home.
Now, can you honestly say that you can afford to miss out on this opportunity after learning all the benefits that UPVC window painting can offer?
By now you have a good idea of what's involved and how UPVC paint can save you a lot of money. Call our Edinburgh team today for a free quote or to ask any other questions and we'll be pleased to help you out.
Our dedicated Edinburgh team of UPVC painters are waiting to transform your home, whether you just need a UPVC door painting or the full works (doors, windows, garage door, conservatory, soffits, and fascia boards).
Don't wait until it's too late! If your UPVC degrades too much or becomes too damaged, it may not be possible to spray them.
You are one decision away from saving money, reducing your environmental impact, increasing the lifespan of your window and door frames, and making your home look amazing.
Spray window frames can last for more than 10 years. We are happy to offer a 10-year guarantee on our UPVC spraying.
Spray painting a UPVC window is a worthwhile investment. It can be as cheap as £150, which is significantly less than replacing a window that can cost 2-3x as much.
UPVC should never be painted below 8 degrees celsius as it can slow down the drying process. Morning due can also cause problems with the final finish, but this depends on how long the project is.
You can spray paint wooden frames. This will give your home a completely new look.
