Browse Forums Windows & Doors 1 Oct 06, 2008 9:23 pm See photos
I have these stained/varnished doors and window frames throughout my house. Kitchen and bathroom included. I was going to re-stain/varnish them as I thought the timber look might look classy. Someone said I should paint over them with gloss paint. Now I am confused because I can see that point of view too. They are quite grainy - maybe that would show through with gloss paint and they are not that thick to sand tooo much. I am intending to put up timber blinds I thought they might look good with the wood. I will be painting. Any feedback? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I am renovating a 3 bed house. I have no trades experience but I am keen to learn how renovate. I really appreciate the advice people give me here because I dont have a car so it is hard to get around trades places to talk to people. Re: Wooden doorframes and window frames - should I paint ove 2Oct 07, 2008 2:20 pm Gatoblanco See photos I have these stained/varnished doors and window frames throughout my house. Kitchen and bathroom included. I was going to re-stain/varnish them as I thought the timber look might look classy. Someone said I should paint over them with gloss paint. Now I am confused because I can see that point of view too. They are quite grainy - maybe that would show through with gloss paint and they are not that thick to sand tooo much. I am intending to put up timber blinds I thought they might look good with the wood. I will be painting. Any feedback? I think you'll get lots of opinions on this:) It's hard to judge without seeing the style of house you have, but if you're going for modern, then I'd paint them. A lot of people like stained timber window and door frames, but I'm generally not one of them unless they are a part of the theme of the house. For example, my sister lives in a house in the California mountains, in a lovely wooded neighborhood. Her whole house is made of timber and timber siding, and stained timber windows, doors, and door frames just go with the country cottage retreat look. The photo's I've seen of your house seem to me to be a lot more clashing with this look, so I think it would be cleaner painted white. Greg Re: Wooden doorframes and window frames - should I paint over? 3Oct 07, 2008 2:34 pm If you do stain/varnish the timber then paint the walls etc an off-white.
Have seen rental houses painted pastel blue throughout with stained timber, very bad look (and depressing to live in). If you do paint the architraves prepare them properly first. Our last landlord had the stained timber architraves painted on the cheap and the paint pretty much came off if you just brushed against the doorway. Re: Wooden doorframes and window frames - should I paint over? 4Oct 07, 2008 2:35 pm Hi there,
Hmmm...it's going to come down to the style/look you prefer. Our architraves and windows are made of silky oak! but some bugger painted them years ago and now (27,000 coats later) we don't have the energy to sand it all off and refinish the wood. We just had the house painted and the 'professional' painters just bunged another coat on top - didn't sand a thing the lazy buggers. I accosted them about it (well, they charged $6k!) and they said noone sands anymore...how about that. If you've good wood - good quality, nice grain - I say stick with it. It looks great. The modern look - all glossy, no cornices and boxy is just plain boring as far as I'm concerned. And remember, once you've painted the wood, that's the end of it. You'll never have the time energy or money to sand the paint off if you decide later to go back to wood. In my opinion, sanding and refinishing the wood would be a very satisfying job and it would look great. But again, it's going to come down to which look you prefer. If you paint it, there are lots of lovely colour schemes you can choose from in the wattyl/taubman's etc brochures. We have polished brushbox floors and we went with a soft cream on the walls and 'lamarque' on the architraves. White 'new york' cornices and ceiling. Re: Wooden doorframes and window frames - should I paint over? 5Oct 07, 2008 2:46 pm Personally I would paint a gloss off white. Just to make the areas look bigger and cleaner.
HTHs Re: Wooden doorframes and window frames - should I paint over? 6Oct 07, 2008 2:55 pm If you decide against over painting I recommend to use oil rather than varnish,
It is more water resistant even if the surface is damaged. Damages are easier to repair and it simply looks better than the plastic look created by varnish. Re: Wooden doorframes and window frames - should I paint over? 7Oct 07, 2008 6:38 pm Meranti does show the grain through the paint.
If you decide to paint, I'd rip the architraves off and replace them with primed MDF, its dirt-cheap and much less work than trying to sand back a profiled mould. Re: Wooden doorframes and window frames - should I paint over? 8Oct 07, 2008 8:13 pm I live in a late 1920s house. It has lots of quality woodwork in it. First thing I did when I moved in was rip out all the dusty, diry old carpet and polish the solid Tasmanian Oak floorboards. Then I repainted the interior walls from the hideous pastel blues and lemon yellow.
But what I haven't been able to repair (so far) is where the previous owner had slopped on buckets of thick gloss paint all over some of the most beautiful 12-inch skirting boards, picture rails and solid cedar doors. I just look at the hideous thick coat of cream and blue enamel and despair. I have stripped one section, but it was tedious, toxic work. I'm not sure how good your wood is; or to what degree the exposed wood is a feature, but putting enamel over wood is usually a one-way ride - you won't ever get that wood look back. Consider carefully. Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves. - Dale Carnegie For your reference Performance Labels: Window assemblies in housing, except timber windows, must be labelled so the label can be seen when it is in situ. For timber… 6 7738 That sucks! Hope it all works out. Good to move away from steel anyway for all your reasons, but it's also thermally poor. 16 17895 |