I think you're right about the sanding—can't skip that step if you want decent results. Just stained mine last summer, and while I love the look, I'm already noticing some fading on the south-facing windows. Paint definitely seems tougher against sun damage. Still, there's something about natural wood that makes the extra hassle worth it...at least for now. Guess I'll see how I feel after a few rounds of re-staining!
"Just stained mine last summer, and while I love the look, I'm already noticing some fading on the south-facing windows."
Yeah, south-facing windows really take a beating. Stain looks great at first, but honestly, I've seen folks get pretty tired of the upkeep after a couple rounds. Paint might not have that same natural charm, but it definitely holds up better against UV rays and moisture. If you're set on staining, consider using a marine-grade varnish over the stain—it helps with durability. Still, nothing's totally maintenance-free...
Yeah, marine-grade varnish can definitely help, but have you thought about adding some UV-blocking film to the glass itself? I tried it on mine, and it noticeably slowed down fading...might save you some hassle down the road.
Marine varnish is solid advice, and the UV film idea sounds intriguing too—never considered that angle before. But I wonder how noticeable the film is once it's applied? I've seen some that gave windows a weird reflective look, which isn't ideal if you're aiming for authenticity. Also curious if anyone's compared how staining vs painting holds up specifically when combined with UV protection...might be worth exploring whether one combo outlasts the other.
"I've seen some that gave windows a weird reflective look, which isn't ideal if you're aiming for authenticity."
Yeah, that's exactly what put me off the UV film idea initially. A neighbor down the street used some kind of UV film on their front windows, and honestly, it looks kinda off—almost like mirrored sunglasses. Not terrible, but definitely noticeable. I'm also skeptical about staining vs painting durability-wise...doesn't paint usually chip and peel faster under harsh sun compared to stain fading gradually? Curious if anyone's had different experiences.
Yeah, that's exactly what put me off the UV film idea initially.
I've had painted wood windows on the south side of my house for about six years now. Honestly, they're already peeling pretty bad in spots. My brother-in-law stained his windows around the same time, and they've faded a bit but still look decent. I think you're right about paint chipping faster under strong sun—at least that's been my experience. The staining just seems to age better overall.
Yeah, paint definitely struggles on windows facing full sun—seen it happen a lot. Stain tends to fade more gracefully and doesn't show its age quite so abruptly. But honestly, maintenance plays a big role too. I've seen stained windows that look rough after just a couple of years because the homeowner never bothered resealing them. On the flip side, I've had clients who repaint religiously every few years, and their painted windows still look sharp after a decade.
If you're not into frequent touch-ups (and who is?), staining usually feels like less hassle overall. Plus, when stain fades, it kinda looks weathered and natural—paint peeling just looks neglected, haha.
"Plus, when stain fades, it kinda looks weathered and natural—paint peeling just looks neglected, haha."
Totally agree with this. When we bought our place, the previous owners had painted the south-facing windows, and after just two summers they were already peeling badly...not exactly the charming look we were going for. Stain's definitely been easier to manage since switching over.
Same experience here. We had painted windows on our west-facing side, and after a couple of hot summers, they started peeling pretty badly. Switched to stain a few years ago, and honestly, it's been way less hassle. Even when it fades, it just looks like it's meant to be that way—sort of rustic and cozy. Glad to hear your switch worked out well too...makes the upkeep feel worth it, doesn't it?
I've gone back and forth on this myself, and here's what I've found over the years:
- Paint looks great at first, but yeah, the peeling is inevitable. Especially if your windows get hit by direct sun. Spent way too many weekends scraping and sanding, and honestly, life's too short for that.
- Stain definitely fades more gracefully. You nailed it with the rustic look—it just ages better. Plus, touch-ups are way easier. Quick sand, slap on a fresh coat, done.
- One downside though: stain doesn't offer as much protection against moisture or UV as paint does. If you're somewhere wet or super sunny (sounds like you might be), you'll probably have to reapply stain more often than you'd repaint...but it's less hassle each time.
- I did find a compromise: semi-transparent stains. They hold up longer than clear stains, still show the wood grain nicely, and fade evenly enough that neighbors think it's intentional, haha.
But yeah, overall I'd say staining beats painting hands-down for wood windows—at least as far as my patience and weekends are concerned.