Painting Timber Windows in Victorian & Edwardian Homes: The Right Way

Original timber sash windows in Hampstead and North London's Victorian terraces are irreplaceable architectural features — maintaining them correctly is both a matter of preserving the character of the property and of protecting a significant investment. Properly maintained timber windows can last indefinitely; neglected ones rot, seize, and eventually become candidates for expensive replacement.

Why Timber Windows Need Regular Maintenance

Timber windows deteriorate where moisture can penetrate — typically at joints, putty lines, and end grain at the base of the frame. Once moisture enters and freezes, the joint opens, more moisture enters, and the process accelerates. The best protection is an intact, intact decorative coating that excludes moisture entirely and is renewed before it breaks down.

The Correct Process

Step 1: Remove all loose and flaking paint with a heat gun and scraper. Do not use angle grinders, which risk cutting into the timber. Strip back only to a sound substrate — sound paint that is adhering firmly can be incorporated into the system.

Step 2: Treat any exposed bare wood with a wood preservative or hardener. Any soft, rotten sections must be cut out and filled with a two-part epoxy wood filler (Repair Care or equivalent).

Step 3: Re-putty any glazing with linseed oil putty — standard glazing compound is not appropriate for timber frames that require flexibility.

Step 4: Prime all bare timber with an appropriate oil-based wood primer. Apply one undercoat, then two topcoats of an exterior eggshell or gloss.

Product Recommendations

We specify Farrow & Ball Exterior Eggshell for premium colour with good durability, or Teknos Futura (a water-based exterior system with professional-grade adhesion and flexibility) for houses with a complex window profile or significant ongoing exposure.

Sash window and casement window decoration is a specialism of Hampstead Painting Company. Call 020 3874 2670 for a free survey across NW3 and North London.