Routine Care & Maintenance Tips: Painting & Staining

Painting and/or staining is necessary to prevent damage and maintain Marvin wood windows. Follow the guidelines below to keep your windows looking and performing like new.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

• Immediately following installation, all bare wood windows and doors must have a top quality finish applied to the exterior and interior surfaces. Periodically refinish as needed to avoid damage to wood parts. It is the homeowner's responsibility to select high-quality interior or exterior paints and stains, to prime all wood surfaces, and to follow the paint or stain manufacturer’s directions for the proper application of their product.
• When applying a finish, do not apply paint or stain to weather strip, vinyl, plastic, metal or any other non-wood parts. Solvents in paints, stains and varnishes will cause plastic or vinyl parts, in particular, to become brittle and require replacement. Do not apply a finish to any surface which has an abrasive or sliding contact with another surface. Clean and dry bare wood surfaces before applying your choice of finish. Remove handling marks, debris, or effects of exposure to moisture by sanding lightly with 220 or 320 grit sandpaper. Do not use cleaners containing abrasives or solvents on Marvin products. Clean with mild detergent and warm water. Stain or clear coat finishes are not recommended for exterior wood window and door surfaces.* Do not apply lacquer or varnishes over primed parts.
• In addition to recommendations found in Marvin Windows and Doors General Painting/Staining instructions, products installed in high humidity and high moisture environments should have a finish applied prior to installation. Finishes used should be appropriate for each area, and be of a grade sufficient to protect the units from moisture damage, providing water shedding properties while allowing water vapor to diffuse to the exterior. Units should be finished with operable sash removed. All accessible wood portions should be finished. High moisture areas include certain regions of Japan, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• Marvin treats exposed millwork on windows and doors with a water repellant wood preservative. If any portion of the millwork is cut off or otherwise disturbed (by installation or damage in the course of the product’s lifetime), untreated wood will be exposed to the elements and may deteriorate. Untreated wood must be protected by a water repellant wood preservative which contains at least 0.5% IPBC. Apply as recommended by the treatment manufacturer. Failure to retreat properly or adequately voids warranty.

* Some exceptions may apply