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From Cream to Black – Aluminium Windows and Doors Through Primer, Tack Coat and Full Wet Coats

This job shows aluminium windows and door frames at multiple stages of the repainting process — from the original cream finish, through primer, into the tack coat stage, followed by two full wet coats, and finally close-up shots of the completed black finish.

What makes this type of video valuable is that it doesn’t just show the end result. It shows the progression. You see the frames before colour. You see the primer stage. You see the tack coat building. You see the full wet coats laying down. And you see the close-up of the final finish.

This is important because aluminium window painting is not a one-step colour change. It is a controlled sequence. If one stage is rushed or skipped, the final coat will expose it immediately — especially when going from a light cream to a deep black.

This project follows that sequence properly.

The Starting Point – Old Cream Aluminium

Cream aluminium frames are extremely common across the Gold Coast. They were widely used for years and, at the time, suited brickwork, roof colours and interior tones. But once homes are renovated, cream tends to stand out in the wrong way.

When walls become lighter, interiors shift to whites or greys, and finishes become more modern, cream aluminium frames often feel dated. They visually interrupt the design.

In this case, the goal was simple: take the existing cream aluminium windows and door frames and bring them into alignment with a more modern black finish.

The frames themselves were sound. Structurally fine. Functioning properly. This was a visual update — but it still required the full system.

Stage 1 – Surface Preparation

Before any coating is applied, preparation determines everything.

Aluminium is non-porous. It does not absorb paint. It must be keyed and cleaned properly to allow primer to bond.

Preparation includes:

Cleaning to remove surface contamination

Sanding to mechanically key the aluminium

Ensuring even abrasion across all profiles

Washing to remove sanding residue

Degreasing to eliminate oils and handling marks

Masking glass, rubbers and surrounding surfaces

When going from cream to black, preparation is even more critical. Any inconsistency in the base will show through the darker colour.

Black highlights everything. So the surface must be uniform before primer ever touches it.

Stage 2 – Primer Application

Primer is the foundation.

It is not about changing colour — it is about adhesion and creating a stable base for the topcoats.

In the video, you see the primer stage clearly. The aluminium shifts from the original cream into a neutral base tone. This is where the transformation truly begins, even though it’s not the final colour.

Primer must be applied evenly:

Consistent film build

No dry patches

No heavy edges

Full coverage on profiles and corners

Primer ensures the subsequent coats behave predictably. Without it, the topcoat would be relying on the old finish for adhesion.

That’s not acceptable.

Stage 3 – The Tack Coat

After primer has done its job and is ready for topcoating, the tack coat stage begins.

A tack coat is a controlled, lighter first pass of the finishing system. Its purpose is not full coverage. Its purpose is to create grip for the wet coats that follow.

The tack coat:

Reduces the risk of runs

Improves adhesion between layers

Allows controlled film build

Creates a stable surface for wet coats

This stage is especially important when spraying darker colours like black. Going straight to heavy wet coats increases the chance of sagging or uneven sheen.

The tack coat sets the platform.

Stage 4 – First Full Wet Coat

Once the tack coat has flashed correctly, the first full wet coat is applied.

This is where colour depth begins to show.

The first wet coat:

Builds coverage

Evens out tone

Begins establishing gloss level

Smooths over the tack coat texture

Technique at this stage matters. Pass speed, overlap and distance must remain consistent. Any variation will show in the finish.

When spraying black, consistency is everything. You cannot rely on colour to hide mistakes.

Stage 5 – Second Full Wet Coat

The second wet coat completes the build.

This coat:

Finalises colour saturation

Establishes final sheen

Smooths surface texture

Creates uniform gloss across frames

At this stage, the difference from the original cream is dramatic. The frames now read as intentional, sharp, and modern.

The black finish frames the glass cleanly and visually reduces the thickness of the aluminium. This is one of the reasons black is so popular — it visually simplifies the profile.

Close-Up Inspection – Why It Matters

The video ends with close-up shots of the completed finish.

Close-ups tell the real story.

From a distance, many paint jobs look acceptable. Up close, you see:

Surface smoothness

Edge definition

Gloss consistency

Clean masking lines

Profile coverage

When preparation, primer, tack coat and wet coats are applied properly, the close-up reveals a controlled, even surface.

This is where the system proves itself.

Why the Sequence Matters

This job demonstrates a full system:

Preparation

Primer

Tack coat

First wet coat

Second wet coat

Final inspection

Remove any one of those steps and the outcome changes.

For example:

No primer = adhesion risk

No tack coat = higher chance of runs

One heavy coat instead of two controlled coats = inconsistent sheen

Poor sanding = visible texture under black

The sequence protects the result.

Cream to Black – The Visual Shift

Going from cream to black is one of the biggest visual changes you can make to aluminium windows and doors.

Cream:

Draws attention

Feels dated against modern finishes

Competes with lighter walls

Black:

Frames the glass

Feels architectural

Suits modern renovations

Creates contrast

Works inside and out

When paired with white walls, black aluminium creates a sharp, clean edge. When paired with darker materials, it blends seamlessly.

The transformation is not subtle — but when done correctly, it looks deliberate rather than dramatic.

Common Across the Gold Coast

This type of repaint is common across:

Mudgeeraba

Robina

Worongary

Carrara

Parkwood

Reedy Creek

Burleigh Waters

Palm Beach

Cream aluminium is widespread in these suburbs, and many homes have undergone partial renovations where the windows are the last original element.

Repainting allows those homes to feel cohesive again.

Why Spraying Is Essential for This Finish

Spraying allows:

Even film build

Smooth texture

Consistent sheen

Proper edge definition

Brushing aluminium frames would not produce the same result. Profiles and corners would show texture and lap marks.

When going from a light colour to a deep black, smoothness matters.

What This Job Shows Clearly

This project doesn’t just show a finished result.

It shows:

The transition from cream

The primer stage

The tack coat

The two full wet coats

The final close-up

That transparency matters. It demonstrates the system rather than just the outcome.

The End Result

At completion, the windows and door frames no longer feel like original cream aluminium.

They feel integrated into a modern finish.

The black is even. The sheen is consistent. The lines are clean.

And the close-up confirms it.

Final Thoughts

Aluminium window and door repainting is not about spraying over old colour.

It is about:

Mechanical preparation

Correct priming

Controlled tack coat

Structured wet coat application

Even film build

Clean masking

Final inspection

This job demonstrates each stage clearly.

Cream to black is a bold shift — but when the system is followed correctly, the result looks intentional, sharp and cohesive.

SEO COPY-PASTE BLOCK

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SEO Title

Aluminium Windows Cream to Black | Primer, Tack Coat & Wet Coats

SEO Description

From cream to black aluminium windows and doors showing primer, tack coat and two full wet coats across the Gold Coast.

SEO Keywords

aluminium window painting Gold Coast, repaint cream aluminium windows, black aluminium door frames, aluminium window spraying, primer tack coat wet coats

G Meta Keywords

aluminium window painting Gold Coast, cream to black windows, aluminium frame spraying

Tags

aluminium windows, black frames, primer stage, tack coat, wet coats, Gold Coast painters