Learning how to protect windows from drips, spills, and splatters is an essential skill to learn for a home painter. Just as you learn not to colour outside the lines as a kid, you need to ensure that you save a structure’s windows from the mess that wet paint brings.
Protecting these fixtures is crucial, as it may take a while for you to notice that paint has made a mess of the windows. Once the paint has dried, it will be difficult to remove the colour from the glass without scratching it—which can be a headache for you and the client you’re working for.
This is true even for painters who prefer the use of sprays instead of the brush. While skilled painters may produce fewer drips using spray paint, the resulting motions may make it more difficult to avoid the glass without missing the corners.
How do I protect the windows while painting exterior walls?
Traditionally, painters use the aptly named painter’s tape, a type of pressure-sensitive tape made from thin and easily tearable paper. Painters will typically cover the windows with a thin sheet of plastic and fasten it to the windows’ trim with painter’s tape.
While the traditional method works well, it still has its disadvantages. For example, when it rains, the paper-based painter’s tape can quickly disintegrate and weaken. Additionally, the process is also laborious, especially with homes that have a lot of windows.
A better way to protect a structure’s windows is through temporary peelable protective coatings that can be applied directly to the windows using 10-11 nap paint rollers and peeled off later. This makes for an easier preparation time and adds increased protection from paint and other debris that may scratch the windows during the construction or renovation process.
Why are protective coatings better at protecting windows?
As mentioned earlier, using temporary peelable protective coating consumes less time. Like paint, the protective layer can be painted over the window using 10-11 nap paint rollers. The protective coating can be dry and ready to protect the windows in as short as two hours in ideal conditions.
Peel-off coatings are beneficial for construction projects, where painters are working alongside other workers simultaneously. The debris induced by other ongoing construction work can scratch or mess up the windows.
The peel-off coatings will also withstand moisture, making them ideal for protecting windows all throughout the construction or renovation process. Some products, such as our very own Glass-a-PEEL™, have tested to last up to 12 months of external exposure at 100um thickness. However, if the coats are applied thicker than 100um, the coating can last even longer.
Besides being easier to use, a temporary peelable protective coating is also more environmental. At the end of the project, you can simply peel off the protective coating and reveal a clean and spotless window. Instead of piles of paper or plastic that will end up in a dumpster or landfill, you have a water-based biodegradable coating.
Conclusion
The advantages of temporary protective coatings over traditional methods are clear. As mentioned earlier, they are easier to prepare, offer more than just protection against paint, and are environmentally friendly. Whether you’re building a house from scratch or simply doing a renovation job, you and your clients will benefit from using peel-off coatings—such as the ones we offer here at Clean-a-PEEL!
Clean-a-PEEL offers an innovative way of protecting a wide range of surfaces as you push through with your paint job. Our peelable temporary protective coating acts as a barrier from paint splatter, dust, fasteners, footprints, and other job site debris. Contact us today to learn more.
