How to paint a plastic door?

How can you paint plastic panels and how to do it correctly?

Wall and ceiling panels made of plastic are in fashion these days. Many residential owners use them as a finishing material. But not everyone is satisfied with the proposed color palette, so the question often arises: how to paint PVC panels and is it possible to paint them at all?

Considering the huge range of paints and varnishes on the sales market, choosing paint for plastic will not be a particular problem for the user. But before you start painting, you need to decide on the color that will most suit the homeowner in the interior of the room. As a rule, acrylic compositions are produced in pastel, medium and rich tones.

How to paint plastic doors

Two types of paints are used for painting plastic products:

These types of paints are suitable for any PVC surface and are available in different colors, so the doors can be decorated to suit any interior.

Acrylic and water-dispersion paint has the following advantages:

water-repellent effect;
attractive appearance;
quick drying;
good adhesion to plastic;
weather resistance;
color retention when exposed to ultraviolet rays;
rich color palette;
ease of cleaning;
affordable price;
Possibility of application by spraying or brush.

Important! Acrylic and water-dispersed dyes are environmentally friendly, as they are diluted with water.

Having sorted out the type of paint, let's move on to the coloring itself.

Required materials and tools

Before painting plastic panels, it is necessary to prepare the surface for painting, prepare materials and tools, including:

Cleaner for plastic panels;

Lint-free cotton fabric;

Special paint for plastic;

Protective gloves and respirator.

It is best to treat the surface with a high-quality and inexpensive cleaner. There may be traces of the lubricant that was used to coat it during manufacturing on the plastic. With the help of a cleaner, it is possible to degrease the material, remove dust and static electricity. This product is applied to lint-free fabric. It is used to treat the surface of the plastic. After cleaning the surface, you need to wait until it dries, and only then you can paint.

Many people believe that panels can be painted with a roller or brush. This is a misconception: only a spray gun can be used as a tool for applying paint, and plastic can be painted using the spray method.

On video: types of PVC and MDF panels.

What kind of paint can I use?

Not every paint adheres to plastic panels. Therefore, there are special types of compositions for such material. Today you can easily purchase paint of the desired shade. When choosing paint for plastic, you need to take into account the conditions under which painting will be carried out. It’s one thing when it comes to interior painting work, and another if it’s carried out outside.

If you choose decorative materials, you should know that they are used for decorative designs, and there are special stencils for their application. Technological compositions are designed to reliably protect the surface from damage and wear.

To avoid problems when working with paints, you need to strictly select those materials that are intended for PVC panels. Painting allows you to extend the life of the plastic and make it a decoration for your interior design.

Plastic is often painted with polyurethane water-based paint, the durability of which has been tested in practice. In order for the paint layer to be more durable and last longer, varnish is applied on top of the dried composition. Drying can be done naturally or forcefully.

Today, polyurethane-acrylic water dispersions are also used for painting plastic surfaces. These painting materials are used to paint windows, doors, panels, and other PVC products. The following advantages of using such dyes can be listed:

These are environmentally friendly paints and varnishes that do not contain solvents;
The coating applied with such paint serves as an excellent decorative decoration;
the coating is resistant to deformation and contamination;
Such paints are water-repellent.

Acrylic paint for plastic panels dries quickly. So if for some reason the owner is not satisfied with the color of the plastic finishing materials, they can be painted with an acrylic composition. A wide range of colors allows you to choose the material to suit the interior design of any room.

Polyurethane acrylic coatings are resistant to pollution, weathering, elastic and environmentally friendly to use. They do not have a strong odor, are easy to clean from dirt and dust, and have a water-repellent composition. The service life of such coating is long. The only drawback of this material is the difficulty of application.

When choosing paint, you need to pay attention to the composition and instructions, because a good product should dry no later than twelve hours. You should focus on hardness, the degree of repulsion from the surface, and find out about the presence of organic compounds in the paint.

You also need to pay attention to manufacturers of paints and varnishes. Acrylic paints are considered harmless, and after their application the result is a coating that looks like the surface of plastic panels. As for water-based analogues, they are not suitable for painting plastic, since they will simply drain from it.

Features of coloring

Knowing what you can use to paint plastic panels, how to prepare them for this, what available means to use for this, you can begin the painting process. Pay attention to these principles:

Painting work should begin an hour after tinting the paint.
Before starting painting, it is necessary to determine the viscosity of the composition and, if necessary, dilute the paint with clean water.
The paint is applied exclusively with a spray gun.

By following the instructions on how to paint panels, you can achieve excellent results. During work, you need to cover the surfaces adjacent to the panels with film so that paint and varnish material is not sprayed on them.

It is necessary to select the optimal parameters of the spray gun, the diameter of the gun nozzle and operating pressure, and also monitor the thickness of the applied layer. You need to spray the dye in a layer of 6 mm. The thinner the coating, the faster it will dry.

Light plastic can be painted in one layer, while dark plastic can be painted twice. To dry the applied paint, the temperature in the room must be at least twenty degrees Celsius. You need to check whether the panels are dry no earlier than after six hours. If you are not satisfied with the color of the panels, it is better to paint them with an acrylic composition.

Tips and tricks from professionals

The dyeing process is simple if you follow the sequence of all steps and listen to the advice of the experts.

Before buying paint, carefully read the instructions for its use and characteristics. If you have any questions, contact your sales consultant who will explain and help you.
If the coloring composition is tinted, it is better to start the painting process an hour after that.
It is better not to use a brush to paint plastic doors, as it leaves streaks. This tool is for applying paint in hard-to-reach places. For painting, it is better to use a spray gun or a spray can, which allows you to distribute the composition evenly, without drips.
Monitor the viscosity of the paint; it should not be too high; to avoid this, the composition is diluted with the required amount of water.
Keep in mind that when using a spray gun, the spray of the dye is much wider than from a spray can, so before the painting process, take care to protect the walls and floor by covering them with film about 2 meters from the door structure.
The paint is applied in several layers, each of which is allowed to dry for 15–20 minutes.
To avoid streaks and drips, the first and subsequent layers are made no thicker than 0.7 mm.
When working with paints, especially when spraying them, take care of personal safety equipment, since if small parts of paint get into the respiratory tract or eyes, irreversible consequences may occur.
The paint should dry at room temperature. It is not recommended to use aids to speed up drying.

Important! The higher the humidity and lower the temperature in the room, the longer it will take the door to dry.

An example of painting plastic using a window as an example:

To summarize, we note that if you want to update the interior of a room, it is not necessary to resort to replacing doors. It is enough to paint them to achieve the same effect. Painting plastic doors is a simple process, consisting of several stages, the implementation of which is mandatory. This includes preparing tools and materials, the surface itself, and painting the canvas. If carried out correctly and following the recommendations of the masters, the result will be positive and will delight you for many years.

Source

Painting a plastic window sill with modern compounds

Durable PVC double-glazed windows can last a long time, but over time, dark spots, cracks, and scratches appear on them. When discussing what and how to paint a window sill, it is difficult to find an answer without the help of a specialist. Most defects are found on a wide horizontal plane - a plastic window sill is often used as an additional tabletop. It is problematic to update it without a general replacement of window frames. The best solution is restoration with painting.

Why do you need to paint a plastic window sill?

With the repair of a wooden or stone surface, everything seems to be clear; they are easy to restore. But how to paint a white plastic window sill? Enamels, which are traditionally used to open wooden surfaces, are not suitable for PVC windows. Puttying and painting is the best way to update the color and hide defects and stains. A simple restoration procedure is accessible even to a beginner if you choose the right innovative paint for plastic window sills. Separately, it is worth mentioning colored double-glazed windows, which are no longer uncommon in the construction market. During their production, a fade-resistant pigment is added to the liquid plastic mass. If desired, you can install plastic frames with imitation of natural wood, in which even the surface texture repeats the cut of the natural material. It makes no difference whether you paint a white PVC window sill or a colored one; it must be in harmony with the overall design of the interior.

Features of the material

Any surface can be updated. The right choice of materials is needed to change color and improve aesthetics. The window fittings are protected from corrosion by a special coating for Zinga metal. Horizontal kitchen surfaces lose their attractiveness due to increased use. Questions are inevitable about whether it is possible to re-paint plastic window sills, rather than whether it is better to do it at home. The difficulty of updating plastic is that most traditional paints are not suitable for frames and window sills:

traditional compositions are poorly distributed over a smooth film;
there will be minimal adhesion to laminated PVC;
the paint will not apply evenly (puddles, gaps);
even if you manage to apply the paint in an even layer and wait until it dries completely, it will subsequently peel off in large fragments;
The window sill will have to be cleaned of this layer and repainted again.

Modern polymer car paints are suitable for plastic windows. New offers from manufacturers - unlimited possibilities for renovation and painting of all types of PVC frames using the following means:

polyurethane enamels;
alkyd-urethane;
acrylic-polyurethane.

PVC frames and window sills have a durable, smooth film with water-repellent properties. Thanks to this, laminated windows look like new for a long time. But due to the maximum protection of such products, doubts arise about the resistance of the painted surface to mechanical stress.

How to prepare a PVC door

The preparation algorithm is as follows:

If there is a protective film on the canvas, then remove it from the door. Accuracy is important here; without it, the plastic can be damaged;
rid the door of dust and small debris. This can be done with a brush or a can of compressed air;
wet clean the product from grease and dirt. Here you can use both simple detergents and specialized “chemistry”. The main thing is to wash the surface cleanly, simultaneously removing static tension;
clean the surface with fine sandpaper to improve adhesion, and then wash again;
rid the surface of grease using a solvent or antiseptic;
wait for the surface to dry completely;
glass inserts, if any, and also, in any case, seal the seals with masking tape;
if the paint is used in a can, then so that it does not end up on the walls or ceiling during spraying, cover each nearby surface with film;
The frame and canvas are thinly coated with a primer for plastic. This primer is a translucent, elastic product to facilitate painting PVC doors. The process of applying a primer involves uniformly spraying the composition over the canvas;
wait fifteen to twenty minutes until the primer dries.

You can start painting the door itself.

Choosing paint for a plastic window sill

Innovative dyes are often produced in cans for easy treatment of hard-to-reach areas. Their low demand is explained by low awareness of the population. Often they are used only by car enthusiasts and teenagers - for graffiti. New compounds can be used much more widely in everyday life if it is a specialized paint for plastic window sills. Today, the construction market is replete with dyes of various compositions that “adhere” perfectly to the laminated plastic base. For example, high-quality imported paint PoliPlast RP Base for polymers. A specialized dye for plastic windows is not yet produced, but some compositions are sufficiently compatible with PVC. The elastic layer requires a special primer for polymers.

Acrylic water-soluble paint is relatively inexpensive, does not have a strong odor, dries quickly, is easy to apply, and has high hiding power. The durable layer effectively levels out minor defects, protecting the surface from mechanical damage.
Automotive aerosol paint on an acrylic-polyurethane base is easily applied in 2-3 layers. A large selection of color variations for plastic parts is an excellent opportunity to update the equestrian opening and modernize the interior.
Alkyd enamel is also suitable for plastic window sills, which are often washed and filled with indoor flowers. It can protect the surface from scratches and will be easier to clean with a solution of household detergents. This enamel is not much more expensive than acrylic paint, but it provides a more durable coating.
Colorless acrylic varnish for polymers can replace industrial lamination. You can choose a matte varnish or with a glossy effect; it will make the color of the PVC window deeper and protect the coating from scratches by abrasive particles and protect it from mechanical influences.
Specialists usually work with two-component polyurethane-based compounds such as PaliPlast UR. The offer comes in different color options and textures. A durable coating is formed, competing in density with the plastic itself; it is applied after heating above +30°C.
The Swiss dye “Feyco AG” has high decorative properties; it is suitable for colored plastic. The innovative composition of the joint production from Palina Coatings is not inferior to most imported analogues.

Necessary tool

Before painting a plastic window sill, it is necessary to prepare special clothing, protective equipment, and all working tools. You will need:

masking tape;
sandpaper;
spray paint (different composition);
construction hair dryer;
putty knife;
tassels;
paint remover (if there is a previous layer);
putty (masking defects).

When treating a window sill with an aerosol, it is necessary to cover all adjacent surfaces with masking tape, and cover the floors with old newspapers. A protective mask, work clothes and cotton gloves are mandatory attributes when painting. Although many compounds do not have a pungent odor, you need to work with them with great care - wear a respirator and ventilate the room.

Tools for painting PVC door

There are several stages of painting a PVC door. Of these, the first is the preparation of all the necessary supplies and tools.

Here you will need:

film to protect the floor, ceiling and walls and, if any, glass inserts;
masking tape for attaching the film and protecting the seals;
any suitable cleaning agent;
soft napkin for impregnation, made of natural fabric;
primer;
a sheet of fine sandpaper;
brush;
dye;
roller, brush or spray gun, depending on the type of paint;
paint container if painting is done with a roller;
protective clothing to prevent paint from getting on your body.

Recommendations for coloring

The surfaces of the window sills, if there are several of them in one room, must be prepared for painting:

wash the window sill well and degrease it;
sand the entire surface with fine sandpaper to remove the laminating layer and increase adhesion;
fill deep scratches with putty;
After the putty has dried, cover it with a primer for polymer products;
if there are defects, re-grinding is needed;
thoroughly vacuum the room (abrasive particles reduce the quality of painting);
cover the surfaces adjacent to the window frames with masking tape;
Cover floors and radiators with film or newspapers.

Foreign manufacturers offer compositions for degreasing plastic SPS CLEANER Soudal, COSMOFEN. To increase resistance to mechanical damage, it is recommended to apply 2-3 layers of paint over the primer. Use a painting tool. Re-painting is done after the previous layer has completely dried. Plastic has low adhesion, so sometimes you have to sand the underlying paint and primer. Experts use an extra-adhesive primer like PRIMER from Rolax and automotive paints for polymers and carbon fiber in cans.

Helpful advice! If you mix acrylic varnish with decorative paste, you can achieve an inimitable effect - metallic, mother-of-pearl or iridescent golden chips.

Preparing the plastic door surface

Painting is carried out in several stages, the first of which is preparing the plastic door surface. Sequencing:

If there is a protective film, remove it. Do this carefully so as not to damage the plastic.
This is followed by cleaning the surface from dust and small debris. A can of compressed air or a brush is suitable for this.
The next step is to wet clean the structure from all kinds of dirt and greasy stains. For this, regular detergents or a special plastic cleaner are suitable, which will rid the product of dirt and at the same time remove static stress.
To enhance adhesion, the surface is cleaned with fine sandpaper, after which it is washed again.
The product is degreased with a solvent or antiseptic.
After the surfaces have completely dried, if there are glass inserts, they are sealed with masking tape. The same goes for seals.

If spray paint is used, to prevent it from getting on the walls, floor or ceiling when sprayed, all nearby surfaces are also covered with film.
A PVC primer is applied to the frame and canvas in a thin, even layer. This is a translucent elastic composition that helps to better paint doors with any paint. The primer is performed by uniformly spraying the solution in a thin layer over the door leaf. It dries in 15–20 minutes, after which they proceed to the coloring itself.

Stages of preparing a door for painting

Care after coloring

The coloring composition retains its properties longer when preserved with a protective layer of colorless varnish. The glossy surface treated with PaliPlast RP 022 Varnish is quite durable, the color of the main paint looks rich and deep. It gives a magnificent coating effect with a different texture. Painting will last for many years if proper precautions are taken. Do not clean with detergents containing abrasive particles. Salt, soda, and pastes for cleaning plumbing fixtures are also not recommended. It is best to wash off dirt with a soapy sponge soaked in dishwashing detergent.

Do-it-yourself painting of plastic windows

The most common color of modern plastic windows is white. Yes, when ordering, you can ask for profiles to be made in any color, but this will cost money. Why is this particular color present? This is done to simplify production, and as a neutral color suitable for many types of design.

What can you do if you want windows of a different color, but you want to keep costs to a minimum? Is it possible to paint plastic windows yourself? What will be required, and how can you do it without the help of specialists?

Firstly, it is possible to set the initial color of the window or “wood” style only at the order stage. If the window is already installed, then changes can only be made by painting.

What do people in the know advise...

If you strictly follow the correct algorithm for painting a PVC door, while taking into account the opinion of experts, this turns out to be not such a difficult task.

When choosing paint, you need to carefully study the instructions for its use, as well as all the characteristics of the product. If you have any questions, please contact your sales consultant: he will give detailed answers and explanations.

When tinting paint, it is recommended to start applying it after an hour.

PVC doors should not be painted with a brush, otherwise stains will remain. The brush should be left for painting hard-to-reach areas. It is much better to paint other areas using a spray can or a spray gun: this way you can apply the paint evenly without leaving streaks.

It is important that the paint is not too viscous. To do this, it should be diluted with water in the required proportions.

If you use a spray gun, the paint is sprayed over a much larger area than when using a spray can. So before work, you should cover the walls, floor and ceiling from paint with film a couple of meters from the door.

The paint should be applied in layers. Each layer should be given fifteen to twenty minutes to dry.

Each layer of paint, including the first, should be no thicker than 0.7 mm. Otherwise, drips and stains may remain.

When using paints, especially when spraying them, you should also use personal safety equipment. If paint particles end up in the respiratory tract in the eyes, this can lead to irreversible consequences.

The paint should dry at room temperature. There is no need to speed up this process in any way.

Attention: in cold and humid air, the paint on the door will take longer to dry.

So, if you want to update your doors, you don't need to replace them. Simple painting is enough - as they say, “cheap and cheerful.” PVC doors are quite easy to paint. This process includes mandatory steps - preparing everything necessary, preparing the canvas and painting it. If you do everything correctly, following the advice of experts, you can achieve excellent and long-lasting results.

What colors are suitable?

To choose paint for plastic windows, you need to follow some requirements.

Persistence. On the street, layers of paint will be susceptible to external factors: temperature changes, humidity, ultraviolet rays. The selected color scheme must withstand all these influences qualitatively.
Viscosity. During the application process, the paint does not need to form sagging or smudges. Fast setting without fluidity is one of the main requirements.
Environmentally friendly. Absence of harmful compounds.

The best modern paints that meet these requirements are water-dispersed acrylic-based ones. Just before purchasing a color, you should make sure that it can be used to paint plastic windows; the packaging should be marked for PVC.

Acrylic resins in the applied layer form a durable and stable coating of the required color.

It is important to know that modern paints are initially white by default. After selecting the required color range, dye is purchased separately. The dye packaging indicates the consistency to obtain the required shade.

The advantage of acrylic paints is their quick drying and resistance to fading. They do not have an unpleasant odor, which allows them to be used in enclosed spaces. Such paints are diluted by adding ordinary water to the composition.

What tools to use

The best option for painting plastic windows is to use a spray gun, which solves several problems at once. This is, firstly, the uniformity of paint application, secondly, the speed of work, and thirdly, the saving of materials.

For manual painting, use paint brushes the width of which corresponds to the window profile.

When cleaning surfaces from remnants of protective film, sealant and polyurethane foam, use a regular plaster spatula.

Window preparation

It is best to paint before installing the window into the opening. On a horizontal surface, doing everything is much easier, and the paint will not form unnecessary sagging. But, you can do all the painting work directly on already installed windows.

Before painting plastic windows, you need to remove the protective film and its remains from the frame. The entire surface is then thoroughly washed.

The window profile must also be degreased. This is done by applying a special plastic cleaner. When it dries, you can proceed to the next stage.

All window seals, as well as glass, are sealed with masking tape and PVC film. When painting indoors, you also need to remove the handles.

Using a flat brush with synthetic bristles, apply a layer of primer.

As a primer option, you can use a composition used when painting plastic parts in cars. For example, "Caparol". It is easy to apply to surfaces and has excellent filling properties, which will help smooth out damage.

The process of painting a plastic door

Having prepared the plastic door structure and decided on the type and color of paint, we move on to the process itself.

This is what the technology of painting using spray enamel paint looks like:

Shake the can of paint well for 1 minute.
Apply the coloring composition from a distance of 25 cm.
The first layer is applied thinly and evenly, after which it is allowed to dry a little.
After 20–25 minutes, apply the second layer.
After the paint has dried, remove the film and masking tape.