Restore Wood Windows Without Replacement

Paint or replace your old wood windows

Most homeowners face this decision when their original windows show age. M.A. Smith Painting helps you understand the real tradeoffs and what makes sense for your Sacramento home. We looked at a home in Citrus Heights last week with beautiful original wood windows from the 1970s. They were painted, but the paint was peeling and the wood looked rough. The homeowner was torn between repainting them and replacing them with vinyl. The replacement quotes were enough to make anyone tear up a little. The problem is that window replacement is expensive, but painting windows that are already failing might just be throwing good money after bad. Homeowners always ask: Is painting my old windows worth it? Should I just replace them? How long will painted windows last? Can you paint vinyl windows? Here's what we've learned from dealing with this situation hundreds of times in Sacramento-area homes. If your wood windows are structurally sound — meaning they open and close properly, the frames are tight, and there's no significant rot — painting them is absolutely worth it. Quality wood windows were built to last, and with proper prep and paint, they can look great and function well for decades. The key is proper prep. We scrape all the old loose paint, sand smooth, prime any bare wood, and use a high-quality exterior paint designed for trim. We also re-glaze and re-putty the window panes if needed. If your windows have rot, won't stay open, or have broken hardware, then painting them is probably just a temporary fix. At that point, replacement makes more sense. For vinyl windows, you can paint them, but it's not ideal. Vinyl expands and contracts with temperature changes, which can cause paint to crack and peel. One thing we tell homeowners in Granite Bay and other hillside areas is that if you have original wood windows with a good view, think carefully before replacing them with vinyl. Vinyl windows have thicker frames and smaller glass areas, which can actually reduce your view. The cost difference is significant. Painting windows might cost a few hundred dollars per window if they're in decent shape. Replacing them is several hundred to over a thousand dollars per window.