Andersen® products with an unfinished wood interior surface must be finished for the longevity of the product and Andersen® Owner-2-Owner® Limited Warranty 
coverage. Proper care, finishing and maintenance are essential. Unfinished wood surfaces must be prepared prior to painting or staining; for instructions see Painting and Staining Information. Please read and follow these instructions completely. If your abilities do not match this procedure’s requirements, contact an experienced contractor. You may direct any questions about this or other products to your local Andersen dealer or Contact Andersen® Windows and Doors directly. See, Locating Andersen® Window and Door Retailers/Dealers.
For information on matching Andersen® Window and Patio Door Stain and Paint Colors, see Matching Andersen® Window and Door Stain and Paint Colors.
The following information is for painting unfinished wood surfaces on Andersen® products. Please see Staining Unfinished Wood Surfaces or staining guidelines.
Painting Interior Unfinished Wood Surfaces
By nature, wood responds to the level of moisture around it. In a high-humidity environment, wood will absorb moisture and swell or expand. Conversely, in an arid climate, it will dry out and may split or crack. In order to maximize the life of your door or window unit and meet the conditions for the limited warranty protection, the product must be properly stored, installed, finished, and maintained. It is the responsibility of the installer to make sure the product is properly protected against environmental elements and undue moisture absorption. Failure to properly store, install, protect, finish, and maintain your door or window may cause concerns such as wood splitting, warping, panel shrinkage, wood joint separation, and water penetration between moldings, panels or glass which which would be outside of the terms of the limited warranty.
Andersen Corporation cannot evaluate all paints, stains, or application requirements. Please contact a paint professional for the coating finish system best suited for your application and region. Select top-quality paints and finishes and follow the manufacturer’s application instructions.
Wood doors and windows facing 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 color paints under these conditions may void the limited warranty.
Tools and Supplies Needed
240-grit sandpaper or steel wool
Tack cloth
High-quality interior primer specific for wood trim
High-quality interior oil or water-based topcoat paint specific for wood trim
Plastic scraper
Painting Instructions
Open or remove the component you are painting.
If painting an operating patio door panel, it should be removed during painting. Please see the Technical Documents 
section of the Andersen website 
for instructions on patio door panel removal.
Sand or buff the unfinished wood surface with sandpaper or steel wool.
Remove dust particles with a tack cloth.
After the surface has been cleaned and prepped, apply one (1) coat of high-quality oil-based primer.
Do not use a water-based primer on wood surfaces.
Following the paint manufacturer's instructions, apply a minimum of two (2) coats of high-quality interior oil or water-based topcoat paint.
Compatible latex resin-base topcoat paint may be used but only over a quality oil-based primer.
Clean excess paint from the glass using a plastic scraper.
Lightly sand between coats using 220 grit sandpaper. Remove dust with a tack cloth after sanding.
Let the paint fully dry before closing or reassembling.
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