Salesforce

Paint Andersen® Products with Unfinished Interior Wood Surfaces

Printable View
« Go Back
Fields
Paint Andersen® Products with Unfinished Interior Wood Surfaces
000006616
New Section

 

Andersen® products with unfinished interior wood surfaces must be finished to protect the wood and to meet the standards for the Andersen® Owner-2-Owner® Limited Warranty Opens in a New Browser Tab coverage.

How to Paint Unfinished Interior Wood Surfaces on Windows and Doors

By nature, wood responds to the level of moisture around it. To maximize the life of your door or window unit, the product must be properly stored, installed, finished, and maintained.

 

It is the installer's responsibility to make sure the product is properly protected against environmental elements and moisture absorption. Failure to properly store, install, protect, finish, and maintain your door or window may cause issues — such as wood splitting, warping, panel shrinkage, wood joint separation, and water penetration between moldings, panels, or glass — which would be outside of the terms of the limited warranty.

 

If you look through the instructions in this article and think your abilities do not match this procedure's requirements, contact an experienced contractor. For additional assistance, contact your local Andersen dealer or Contact Andersen® Windows and Doors.

This Article Will Help You:

  • Prepare the interior wood surfaces.
  • Paint unfinished interior wood surfaces.

Safety Warnings and Cautions

Warning label that reads: Windows and doors can be heavy. Use safe lifting techniques and a reasonable number of people with enough strength to lift, carry and install window and door products to avoid injury.Warning label that reads: Sanding, staining, painting, varnishing and other finishing procedures should always be done in well-ventilated areas. Follow all manufacturer's warnings, cautions and instructions. Failure to do so may result in injury
Warning label that reads: Use extreme care when working around window opening. Never leave a window opening unattended, especially when children are present. Falling from a window may cause serious injury.Caution label that reads: DO NOT expose unfinished wood to high moisture conditions, excessive heat or humidity because it will damage the product. Also, do not stain or paint parts of the window.

Tools and Supplies Needed

  • 220-grit sandpaper or steel wool
  • Tack cloths
  • Plastic scraper
  • High-quality interior oil-based primer specific for wood trim
  • High-quality interior oil- or water-based topcoat paint specific for wood trim

Note: We recommend you select high-quality primer and paint.

Let's Get Started

Andersen Corporation cannot evaluate all paints, stains, or application requirements. Contact a paint professional to determine which type of wood finish would work best for your project and region.

 

Important: Wood doors and windows with direct sun exposure should not be finished with dark paints like black or dark green. Wood may experience excessive movement and may split or crack. Use of dark-colored paints under these conditions may void the limited warranty.

 

1. Prepare the Interior Wood Surfaces for Painting

  1. Follow steps one (1) through six (6) under "How to Properly Prepare Wood Surfaces" in the Information for Painting and Staining Andersen® Products article.

 

All wood surfaces must be dry before starting the finishing process, with moisture content less than 16%. If necessary, remove and store window sashes or door panels in a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment until the moisture content equalizes and adjusts to a more normal level. See Andersen® Windows and Doors Panel and Sash Storage Guidelines for more information.

 

2. Paint Unfinished Interior Wood Surfaces

After you've prepped the surfaces as outlined above, you're ready to begin painting. Follow the paint manufacturer's instructions when applying primer and paint.

 

  1. Open or remove the component you are painting.
    • If you're painting an operating patio door panel, we recommend you remove it to paint it. To locate the correct installation guide, see Technical Documents Opens in a New Browser Tab for instructions on removing your patio door panel.
  2. Sand the unfinished wood surface with sandpaper or steel wool.
  3. Remove dust particles with a tack cloth.
  4. When the surface is clear of dust, apply one (1) coat of high-quality oil-based primer.
    • Do not use a water-based primer on wood surfaces.
  5. Following the paint manufacturer's instructions for curing time, apply at least two (2) coats of high-quality interior oil- or water-based topcoat paint.
    • Compatible latex resin-base topcoat paint may be used but only on oil-based primer.
  6. Lightly sand using 220-grit sandpaper and remove dust with a tack cloth between coats.
  7. Clean excess paint from the glass using a plastic scraper.
  8. Let the paint fully dry before closing or reassembling the unit.

Related Articles

If you'd prefer to stain your product's wood surfaces rather than paint them, see Stain Andersen® Products with Unfinished Wood Interior Surfaces.

 

For information to match Andersen® Window and patio door stain and paint colors, see  Matching Andersen® Window and Door Stain and Paint Colors.

 

©2026 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved.

 
Paint-Andersen-Products-with-Unfinished-Interior-Wood-Surfaces
Powered by