Repainting window sills...

[sandyRoe]

I painted 3 new sills a couple of years ago but the paint, particularly on the one that gets most sun, is blistering and flaking off.
If I ever get around to painting them again how do I get the remains of the old paint off to leave a smoothish finish?

[tonyav]

Sand them down, sandy, either with an electric sander or by hand.

[Gizmonster]

Paint thinners, or maybe even a blow torch, if sanding doesn't the job ??

[sandyRoe]

Me use a blowtorch? I'd probably melt the window frames. Sounds as though a bit of elbow grease is called for.

[ubasses]

buy a can of liquid paint stripper from DIY shop.

[SlackAlice]

I'd probably melt the window frames.

Are the sills Upvc, if so your best option is to rub them down. make sure you use the correct paint when re-painting

[sandyRoe]

Sills are concrete. The were new and I was wondering if that's why the paint didn't last very long.

[tonyav]

Ah could be then sandy, did you use paint especially for concrete such as the paint you use on garage floors ?

[sandyRoe]

No. Just ordinary undercoat and a gloss paint. When I go to buy the paint I'll tell them what its for.

[tonyav]

Yep, get some paint that is specifically for concrete, sandy.

[sandyRoe]

OK. Thank you all. That's a run up to B+Q in the morning then.

[craft1948]

When I bought an old terraced house I used a blowtorch on the doorways to strip them back to the bare wood. After this I gaily vacuumed up the old paint, and then leter couldn't understand why the vac wouldn't work.........

[craft1948]

^ later

[tonyav]

So you vacuumed gaily, crafty lol.

[Mosaic]

I find a hot air stripper is much easier and safer to use than a blowlamp.
However if you are working anywhere near upvc you need to be extra careful not to ever ever let the heat touch said plastic as the results are irreversible.
But as you are working with a concrete substrate then I'd recommend wire-brush-and-soapy-water appraoch and absolutely only use paint and primer product specifically for use on stone / concrete.

A liquid / colloidal paintstripper like nitromors will also do the job but same conditions apply re contact with upvc. Also very nasty to inhale the fumes released.

[The Builder]

Masonry paint such as "Weathershield", Sandy. You will have to get back to bare concrete though. Not an easy job, but I'm sure you're no stranger to elbow grease ;o)

This would make light of the job, Sandy........

http://www.screwfix.c...varnish-remover/97385

...and you can't do too much damage to concrete.

[craft1948]

I did Tony....................and the vacuum repairman thought it was hilarious when he had to ungunge all the clogged together paint from the vacuum hose (I actually blamed it on my mother)

[sandyRoe]

I've been thinking this over. The sills don't really look that bad, so I'll wait 'til the rest of the paint flakes off.

[tonyav]

Blamed your mom crafty, tut tut.

[tonyav]

Way to go, sandy.

[craft1948]

pmsl @ Sandy...............