Is It Worth Painting Aluminium Window Frames?

Why More Gold Coast Homeowners Are Choosing to Spray Instead of Replace

If you’re thinking about upgrading the look of your home or investment property, you might be asking yourself: Is it worth painting aluminium window frames?

The short answer? Yes — absolutely.

But only when it’s done properly.

In this post, we’ll break down:

What makes repainting aluminium window frames worth it When you should repaint instead of replace How long it lasts What it costs What to watch out for Why it’s becoming the go-to upgrade across the Gold Coast

Why Homeowners Consider Painting Aluminium Frames

Aluminium windows have been popular for decades, especially in coastal areas like the Gold Coast. But here’s the issue: most homes built in the 80s, 90s, or early 2000s came with colours like:

Bronze Primrose Dull silver Faded white

These colours now date the property — and they don’t match current colour schemes, exterior paints, or renovation styles. So, when people renovate or prepare to sell, those old aluminium frames suddenly stand out for the wrong reasons.

The good news? You don’t have to replace them.

The Case for Repainting vs Replacing

Let’s compare your two options:

Replacing Aluminium Windows

Very expensive — thousands to tens of thousands Major disruption — brickwork or render may be affected Takes time — weeks to order and install Risk of damage — structural changes can affect waterproofing or alignment Wasteful — old frames go to landfill

Repainting Aluminium Windows

Much cheaper — typically a fraction of the cost Fast turnaround — usually 1–2 days per property Minimal disruption — sprayed onsite, no removal needed Sustainable — reuse your existing frames Visually impactful — same “new look” result

So, is it worth painting them?

Absolutely — especially when they’re still structurally sound.

When It’s NOT Worth Painting Aluminium Frames

We believe in honesty. There are situations where painting may not be the right option:

If the frames are physically bent, warped, or corroded If the glass units are damaged or leaking If you’re replacing all windows with timber or uPVC anyway

In those cases, replacement makes sense. But if the frames are solid — just faded, dirty, or outdated — repainting is a no-brainer.

What’s the Process? (Step-by-Step)

Here’s how we do it:

1. Clean and Degrease

We start by removing silicone residue, oils, and surface contaminants using solvent wipes and degreasers.

2. Mechanical Sanding

Frames are sanded using both orbital machines and hand tools. This is the most important step — it breaks the gloss of powder coat and creates a keyed surface for primer to grip.

3. Dust and Wipe Down

We blow off dust and wipe every surface before masking.

4. Masking

Glass, walls, and sills are masked using plastic film and low-tack painter’s tape. We even tape around window rubbers to prevent overspray.

5. Primer Application

A special adhesion primer is sprayed on. This product is designed for low surface energy materials like powder-coated aluminium.

6. Top Coats (2–4 layers)

We spray 2–4 coats depending on the colour shift (e.g. bronze to white needs more). Spraying is done with HVLP or airless equipment for a smooth, factory-like finish.

7. Tape Removal and Cleanup

Masking is removed carefully, edges are inspected, and frames are wiped down for a perfect finish.

How Long Does It Last?

This is one of the most common questions we get.

When prepped and primed properly, painted aluminium frames can last 8–10 years or more.

We’ve revisited jobs in Mudgeeraba, Robina, and Burleigh Waters nearly a decade after completion — and the finish still looked excellent.

Of course, the lifespan depends on:

Prep quality Number of top coats Colour choice (darker colours fade slower) Exposure to sun, salt air, and rain

But with the right process, it’s a long-term result.

What About Security Screens?

A lot of people think security screens or flyscreens mean you can’t paint the window frames. That’s not true.

We can:

Remove and spray security screens Respray frames with screens off Reinstall them after drying Even re-mesh flyscreens if needed

It’s all part of the service — and it makes a huge difference in the finished look.

What Colours Can You Choose?

We can colour match to:

Dulux Haymes Colorbond Custom sample swatches

Popular colours include:

Satin Black (for a modern, architectural look) Pearl White (great for Hamptons-style homes) Monument or Woodland Grey Silver or Surfmist

Just keep in mind:

White and silver incur an 8% surcharge Metallics are +15% These colours usually require more coats

What Do Customers Say?

We’ve worked on hundreds of homes across the Gold Coast — including Currumbin, Mermaid Waters, Nerang, and Broadbeach Waters.

Here’s what some of our clients have said:

“It completely changed the look of our house.”

“I thought we’d need new windows — this saved us thousands.”

“We were blown away by the finish. You wouldn’t know it’s not brand new aluminium.”

“Clean lines, no overspray, and all done in a weekend.”

It’s that kind of transformation that makes repainting so worthwhile.

Is It a DIY Job?

We get this question a lot too.

Technically, yes — anyone can go to Bunnings and grab some paint. But DIY aluminium painting usually leads to:

Poor adhesion (no proper sanding) Peeling within months Overspray on glass or seals Uneven finish Wasted money

Professional painters use:

Industrial-grade adhesion primers Fine sanding equipment Professional masking materials Spray gear designed for detail work

When done properly, it doesn’t look “painted” — it looks like it came from the factory in that colour.

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Quotes are calculated based on photos, with a single total price (not itemised). This includes:

Labour Materials GST Taping, spraying, and cleanup

No upselling. No surprises. Just a clean, fair price.

Do We Cover Your Area?

We provide aluminium window spraying all across the Gold Coast, including:

North

Pimpama, Ormeau, Coomera, Helensvale, Oxenford, Hope Island, Sanctuary Cove, Paradise Point

Central

Southport, Ashmore, Benowa, Carrara, Nerang, Parkwood, Arundel

Coastal

Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Mermaid Beach, Miami, Burleigh

South

Palm Beach, Currumbin, Elanora, Tugun, Bilinga, Coolangatta

West & Hinterland

Robina, Varsity Lakes, Mudgeeraba, Reedy Creek, Bonogin, Tallai, Worongary, Gilston

If you’re nearby, we’ll come to you.

The Verdict: Is It Worth It?

Painting aluminium window frames is:

Cheaper than replacing them Faster to complete Sustainable and less wasteful Visually transformative Long-lasting when done right

So yes — it’s absolutely worth it, provided the frames are in good condition and the painter knows what they’re doing.

Get a Quote Today

Just upload your photos, choose your colour, and tell us your suburb. We’ll send you a fixed quote — no itemised confusion, just one total.

See Real Projects in Action

Watch our videos and before/after tape-pull reels from across the Gold Coast:

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