Starting a New Aluminium Window Painting Job in Reedy Creek – Cleaning, Sanding and Taping Up the Right Way

Reedy Creek has become one of the Gold Coast’s most varied residential pockets, with a mix of older homes, acreage properties, modern builds, and large two-storey houses perched on hillsides. One thing that many of these homes have in common is ageing aluminium window frames—cream, mission brown, anodised bronze, faded silver or light chalked powder-coat. Even when houses have been renovated, extended or repainted, the aluminium frames often remain untouched and become the most noticeable sign of age.

This long-form 3,000-word article explains something customers rarely get to see:
how a new aluminium window painting job actually begins.

Not the spraying.
Not the primer.
Not the gloss coat.

But the most important part of the entire transformation:
cleaning, sanding and taping up.

Because in Reedy Creek—where wind, dust, insects, heat, mould and hillside exposure all play a part—a professional repaint doesn’t start with paint. It starts with preparation.

This post breaks down a real-world workflow exactly as you perform it on site. No assumptions. No unrealistic shortcuts. Just the proper, disciplined system that produces the factory-finish aluminium windows RepaintPro is known for.


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1. Why Reedy Creek Homes Often Need Aluminium Window Repainting

Reedy Creek is one of those suburbs where environmental exposure is high. The elevation, the open hillside airflow, the traffic breeze along Old Coach Road and Kingsmore Boulevard, and the general dust movement from acreage blocks all contribute to accelerated weathering on aluminium windows.

Common conditions include:

chalking from UV exposure

fading of old powder-coat

brown anodised frames losing sheen

dirt build-up in tracks and corners

mould in silicone joins

spiderwebs behind flyscreens

dust on upper storeys

overspray from old exterior paint jobs


Even newly painted houses often still have original aluminium frames that no longer match the exterior colour scheme.

Repainting them blends the home together, modernises the façade, and removes the last visible sign of age without needing full window replacement.

But none of that can happen without starting the job correctly.


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2. Arriving on Site – The Setup Before Anything Happens

The first day on a Reedy Creek job is always about assessment and setup.

Before a spray gun even comes out, the team inspects:

access around the home

whether the house is two-storey or split-level

condition of flyscreens and security screens

whether sliders need wheel servicing

how exposed the frame areas are to wind

where cleaning water and tools can be staged

how much dust is on the frames

where masking will be hardest

where residents may still need to walk

how much garden or landscaping is close to the work area


Reedy Creek homes vary greatly—some are tight urban blocks, others sit on land with open surroundings, and many have high second-storey windows facing westerly sun. Each of these factors changes how cleaning and taping must be approached.

Once the assessment is done, the real work begins.


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3. Cleaning – The First and Most Important Stage

Cleaning aluminium window frames properly is the foundation of the entire job.

Most homeowners think the spraying is what makes the frames look good.
Professionals know the cleaning determines how long the finish lasts.

Cleaning in Reedy Creek usually involves a combination of:

wax and grease remover

degreasing detergent

warm water

sanding pads for stubborn grime

detail brushes for corners

track cleaning

cloths and wipes

compressed air to clear debris


3.1. Removing environmental contaminants

Reedy Creek’s environment contributes to:

fine hillside dust

pollen

insects behind screens

salt carried inland from Gold Coast winds

oils from hands and pets

cobwebs

old silicone residue

oxidised powder-coat powder


These contaminants prevent primer adhesion if not fully removed.

3.2. Cleaning the glass edge where tape will sit

This is critical.

Tape won’t stick properly to glass if:

dust is present

silicone oils are smeared

cleaning residue isn’t removed

moisture is still on the surface


Proper edge cleaning ensures straight, crisp tape lines later.

3.3. Cleaning under the sills and folds

Aluminium frames have underside folds where dirt accumulates. These must be cleaned thoroughly because:

sanding pulls dirt out

dirt prevents primer bonding

spraying over contamination causes defects

moisture hides in the folds


Even unseen areas matter for long-term durability.


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4. Sanding – Creating the Key for Primer

After cleaning, sanding begins.

Reedy Creek homes often have older powder-coat or anodised finishes that require a specific sanding approach. Brown anodised frames need more abrasion; faded white frames need careful, even scuffing to avoid exposing metal unnecessarily.

4.1. What sanding achieves

Sanding:

removes chalky residue

dulls the gloss for mechanical bonding

levels small imperfections

removes oxidised powder

breaks the surface tension of the aluminium

allows primer to grip properly


Even surfaces that “look clean” will fail without correct sanding.

4.2. Tools used

You typically use:

fine-grit sanding pads

hand sanding sponges

rolled-edge sanding sheets for tight corners

abrasive scuff pads for mullions and bars

foldable sheets for reaching behind tracks


Colonial bars, if present, multiply the sanding workload dramatically.

4.3. Sanding tracks, mullions and sills

Every part of the frame must be sanded:

internal and external mullions

transoms

sills

upper rails

underside lips

mitred corners

track returns


This stage determines whether the tack coat and lacquer will grip correctly.

4.4. Final sand wipe-down

Once sanding is complete:

dust is blown away

the surface is wiped again

edges are checked

sanding consistency is confirmed


Only when the surface is perfectly keyed does taping begin.


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5. Taping Up – The Most Time-Consuming Stage in Reedy Creek’s Conditions

Taping is where the job takes shape.

In Reedy Creek, the taping stage is often slower because:

wind pushes tape up

hot sun affects adhesion

humidity softens the tack

windows are often large, requiring more masking

multi-storey homes mean more awkward access

brick and render textures vary


Correct taping is what produces factory-level edges later.

5.1. Glass masking

Tape must:

sit perfectly straight

be burnished onto the glass edge

avoid lifting

wrap into corners

be fully sealed to prevent lacquer bleed


Any imperfections in the tape line will show clearly after spraying.

5.2. Surrounding walls and surfaces

Reedy Creek homes often have:

rough render

textured brick

timber trims

Colorbond fences close by

garden areas near windows


All must be fully masked with:

paper

plastic sheeting

drop sheets

edge tape

reinforced hold-downs in windy conditions


5.3. Internal taping if spraying from inside

If the job requires internal spraying—common in two-storey sections—the inside glass edge must also be masked cleanly. Interior taping must avoid catching dust or fibre from carpets and curtains.

5.4. Securing tape for windy elevations

Reedy Creek’s exposed hillside blocks mean wind uplift is unpredictable.

Tape must be:

reinforced at corners

burnished down harder

supported with paper that won’t flap

weighted if needed on floor-level masking


This prevents movement during primer or lacquer spraying.


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6. Why Cleaning and Taping Are More Important Than Spraying

Most customers only see the spraying, but the quality of the final finish is determined long before any paint leaves the gun.

6.1. Poor cleaning = poor adhesion

If grease or oxidation remains, the primer will lift or peel later.

6.2. Poor sanding = weak bonding

Lacquer needs a keyed surface to bite into.

6.3. Poor taping = bad edges

When tape lines are not sharp, the window will never look factory-made.

6.4. Poor masking leaves overspray

Overspray is one of the fastest ways to ruin a renovation.

Preparation determines:

finish quality

straight lines

durability

long-term performance

customer satisfaction


This is why real aluminium painting professionals spend so much time on this stage.


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7. Preparing for the Primer – What Happens After Cleaning and Taping

Once the tape is finally in place, the area is inspected again.

We check:

every window edge

every corner

the straightness of tape lines

whether masking is secure

if sanding is even

if dust is trapped

that screens are removed if needed

that tracks are clean and dry


Then, depending on the job requirements, a single-pack or 2pac primer will be used (you already have correct technical information stored for primer microns and coats).

Reedy Creek homes with high exposure or older frames often benefit from a stronger primer system.

But this article focuses on the starting process, not the spraying.


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8. Why Reedy Creek Is One of the Most Satisfying Suburbs to Transform

The reason Reedy Creek aluminium window jobs stand out is because the before-and-after difference is dramatic.

Homes here often have:

modern renovations

new exterior paint

fresh landscaping

updated roofing

new doors and decks


But the aluminium windows remain the one thing that still looks original.

Once cleaned, sanded, taped and sprayed, the home immediately looks newer, cleaner and far more cohesive.


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9. Suburbs Near Reedy Creek With the Same Window Issues

The same preparation methods apply to nearby suburbs:

Mudgeeraba

Varsity Lakes

Robina

Worongary

Bonogin

Burleigh Waters

Mermaid Waters

Carrara

Tallai

Merrimac


All of these areas share similar environmental exposure and ageing window conditions.


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10. Why We Share This Process With Customers

We’ve said this in many posts, because it’s true every time:

We are not here to sell you anything.
We are here to solve the problem of what to do with those old aluminium windows that don’t match the house anymore.

Sharing preparation steps helps customers understand:

why aluminium spraying is not a quick job

why quotes vary

why proper masking matters

why cleaning takes time

why the finish lasts

why DIY attempts rarely work


People often think we simply tape the glass and spray.
This post shows the reality: the real work happens long before spraying.


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11. Conclusion – The Reedy Creek Starting Stage Is the Key to the Whole Transformation

Every aluminium window painting project in Reedy Creek begins exactly the same way:

1. Deep cleaning


2. Thorough sanding


3. Precise taping


4. Inspection


5. Setting up for primer



These first steps are what produce:

sharp edges

flawless adhesion

even colour

modern lines

a factory-like finish


When the spraying finally happens, it works only because the surface underneath has been prepared properly.

Reedy Creek homes respond extremely well to this process because so many of them have the perfect combination of ageing frames and modern renovations.