I just received my delivery of Pella Windows and Doors. Should I stain and paint them now or after they are installed?
We recommend finishing Pella products immediately after installation and preparation.
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Is there any preparation I need to do before painting or staining?
Sometimes during installation, grease or caulking gets on the glass. See cleaning instructions above. Do not allow any cleaning solvents to get on the unfinished wood — it may discolor the wood. Do not remove factory-installed weather-stripping. The wood surface of your window or door may require light sanding to remove any rough surfaces or construction residue, use a #180 or finer sandpaper, and avoid touching the glass with the sandpaper. Do not use steel wool, as the steel fibers will break off and cause discoloration of the finish. Be sure to remove all sanding just before applying any finish.
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I want to paint the interior wood. What paint should I use?
Use a high-quality primer, and two coats of high-quality latex paint with good blocking resistance for a hard, non-tacky finish that won't cause wood parts of window to stick to weather-stripping.
Latex paint is preferred over oil-based paint, as the latex allows the wood to breathe. We do not recommend using a straight acrylic paint, which could reduce the life of the finish or the product. Don't rely on a paint's price or brand name in making your selection, ask your qualified paint profession for a paint with good blocking resistance.
Any wood surface that comes in contact with weather-stripping or a rubber gasket should be primed and painted with FLAT LATEX only. The polymers in semi-gloss and high-gloss latex are similar to those in the gaskets. Failure to follow these instructions may result in windows, doors, and/or interior glass panels that stick "shut". In addition, should any paint, stain, or varnish get on the weather-stripping or vinyl part, do not allow it to remain or dry on these parts!
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Do I paint all the parts of the wood that I can see?
On doors, it's very important to paint/stain all exposed door edges to reduce the chance of warpage.
On double hung windows, do not paint, stain or finish the sash edges (the part of the wood that slides up and down against the frame). Any finish on the sash edges may cause the sash to stick to the frame/jamb liner.
On windows and doors with removable interior glass panels, painting of the wood between the glass is not required.
After painting, please allow windows and doors to dry completely before closing.
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I'm going to stain the wood interiors. What products should I buy?
Use a good-quality stain followed by three (3) coats of exterior-grade polyurethane finish. Do not get any stain or finish on vinyl parts; if that happens remove it immediately with a cloth. If stain or finish gets on a mohair weather strip, blot it thoroughly with a rag, allow it to dry, then flake off any residue with your fingernail.
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