"Wood looks great but can warp or fade faster, especially in harsher climates... learned that the hard way with our last house."
Yeah, I hear you on the wood frames. We went with wood initially because we loved the natural look, but after just a few years, they started showing their age—especially on the south-facing side of our house. The sun really did a number on them, and repainting every couple of years got old fast. Eventually, we switched to fiberglass frames with a matte black finish, and honestly, it's been night and day. They still have that farmhouse charm without the maintenance headache.
One thing I'd mention though—fiberglass can be pricier upfront. But when you factor in the time and money saved on upkeep, it balances out pretty quickly. Aluminum was tempting too, but we worried about condensation issues since winters here get pretty cold. Curious if anyone else has had similar experiences with aluminum frames in colder climates...
"Aluminum was tempting too, but we worried about condensation issues since winters here get pretty cold."
Yeah, aluminum can definitely have condensation issues in colder climates, especially if they're not thermally broken frames. I've seen cases where homeowners had to deal with moisture buildup and even mold around the sills. Fiberglass is a solid choice—good insulation and minimal expansion/contraction. Vinyl's another decent option, though it doesn't always nail that farmhouse aesthetic as well as fiberglass or wood does...
We went fiberglass for ours and haven't regretted it yet. A few winters back, our neighbors had aluminum installed, and they ended up with towels on the sills every morning to soak up condensation... not fun. Fiberglass frames look clean, hold paint really well, and they've got that subtle texture that fits nicely with farmhouse vibes. Wood looks amazing too, but maintenance-wise fiberglass just made more sense for us.
We’re still weighing fiberglass vs. wood ourselves—fiberglass sounds great for low maintenance, but I’ve always loved how wood ages over time. Quick question though, did you have to prep or prime the fiberglass frames before painting them? I’ve heard mixed things about paint sticking properly, and I’d hate to deal with peeling or touch-ups every year...
I painted fiberglass frames a couple years back and honestly, prep is key. Didn't have any peeling issues at all, but I did lightly sand the surface first (just enough to rough it up a bit), then wiped it down thoroughly. Used a good-quality bonding primer specifically made for fiberglass and finished with exterior-grade paint. Still looks solid today, no touch-ups needed yet. If you skip the sanding or primer though...yeah, that's when you might run into trouble down the road.
"prep is key. Didn't have any peeling issues at all, but I did lightly sand the surface first"
Glad to hear this worked out for you—I was actually debating whether sanding was really necessary or just one of those extra steps people do "just in case." Recently moved into my first place, and the previous owners painted EVERYTHING without proper prep. Let me tell you...the paint chips everywhere are driving me nuts. Your experience makes me think it's worth slowing down and doing it right the first time around. Thanks for sharing your process!
I get why sanding seems like a must, but honestly, I've skipped it plenty of times without major issues. It really depends on the surface you're working with. For instance, if you're painting over glossy or sealed surfaces, sanding definitely helps the paint grip better. But if you're dealing with something already matte or porous, a good cleaning and quality primer usually does the trick just fine.
I've been in my house for years, and when we first moved in, I went all-in sanding every single surface. After a while, I realized it wasn't always necessary—just made a bigger mess and took more time. Now I just spot-sand problem areas or anything slick and shiny. Haven't regretted it yet. If you're short on time or patience (like me), you might consider trying a small test patch without sanding first and see how it holds up. Could save you a lot of hassle in the long run...
Totally agree about skipping sanding sometimes—I used to sand religiously, but now I’m way more selective. One thing I learned the hard way, though, is that even matte surfaces can be tricky if they've been heavily cleaned with certain products (like furniture polish). Primer alone didn't stick as well as I'd hoped, so now I always wipe down with a degreaser first. Might wanna test that too, just to be safe...
"Primer alone didn't stick as well as I'd hoped, so now I always wipe down with a degreaser first."
Yeah, learned that lesson myself when repainting some kitchen cabinets a few years back. Thought matte finish meant I could skip prep altogether—big mistake. Ended up peeling within months. Now I always do a quick wipe-down with TSP or something similar first. Doesn't take long, and honestly saves a ton of headaches later on...
Had a similar experience when I was installing new windows in an old farmhouse a couple years ago. I figured since the frames were brand new, I could skip the degreaser and just prime and paint right away. Well, turns out even new frames can have residue or oils from manufacturing. A few months later, the paint started bubbling and peeling around the edges—talk about frustrating. Ended up having to scrape it all off and start from scratch. Now I always give everything a quick wipe-down with something like mineral spirits or a mild degreaser before priming. Adds maybe 15 minutes to the job, but saves hours down the line. Plus, the paint finish just looks so much cleaner and smoother when you prep properly. Lesson learned the hard way, I guess...