Can you paint your 1990’s Andersen windows? At first glance, it sounds like a simple question. But once you dig into it, you realize the answer isn’t straightforward at all. The truth about painting Andersen windows depends on the material, the age, and even the color you choose.
Step One: Figure Out What You’ve Got
Andersen has made windows from all sorts of materials over the years—wood, vinyl, aluminum cladding, fiberglass, and their Fibrex composite. Each material behaves differently when it comes to paint, which is why identifying your window type is the very first step.
The easiest way is to use Andersen’s “find my window” tool on their website. Plug in a few details—style, approximate age, even serial numbers—and it will tell you what you’re working with.
No serial number? You can still play detective. Wood feels like wood, with visible grain. Vinyl is smooth and often has welded corners. Fiberglass feels harder and more rigid than vinyl. Aluminum, of course, feels like metal.
The Official Line vs. The Real World
So, once you’ve identified your window, can you paint it? Here’s Andersen’s official stance:
- Wood interiors: Yes, absolutely. Clean, sand lightly, prime where needed, and paint.
- Vinyl exteriors: No. Paint doesn’t naturally bond, and painting voids the warranty.
- Aluminum cladding: A hard stop. Andersen says their aluminum-clad products cannot be painted. The factory-applied finish is designed to resist adhesion.
That’s the official line. But in the real world, 25–30 years of weather exposure changes things. Factory coatings that once resisted paint have broken down. The surface becomes rougher and more porous, which actually helps new paint adhere.
I spoke with a contractor who painted his own 1990’s Andersen vinyl windows 15 years ago and repainted them again recently. He’s had no major failures—proof that in practice, painting Andersen windows can work if the prep is done right.
How to Make It Work on Weathered Windows
If your Andersen windows are from the early 1990s, the warranty probably isn’t your biggest concern. You just want them to look good again. And the good news is, with the right prep, repainting can be successful.
Here’s what that looks like:
- Start with a deep clean. Use TSP or a TSP substitute with water and scrub using a maroon scotchbrite pad. This cuts through oxidation and grime while scuffing the surface.
- Rinse thoroughly with clean water, then lightly sand with 220-grit paper to give the paint something to grip.
- Check for chalky residue by rubbing your hand across the surface. If you see white chalk on your palm, clean again before moving on.
- Prime with a high-quality bonding primer such as STIX (especially for vinyl or aluminum).
- Finish with a premium acrylic exterior paint like RepcoLite’s Endura Exterior, Benjamin Moore’s Regal Select or Aura, or Element Guard for extra protection.
Done correctly, this process will give old windows a refreshed look and years of new life.
The Dark Color Danger
There’s one more factor many people don’t realize: color matters—especially with vinyl.
Dark colors, particularly black, can actually destroy vinyl windows. Vinyl begins to soften around 160°F, and dark-painted vinyl frames in direct sun can hit over 220°F. That extreme heat causes frames to warp, seals to break, and locks to stop lining up.
There are documented cases of homes where white vinyl windows were painted black and warped in just a few months.
So if you’re painting vinyl, stick with white or very light colors. They reflect heat, keeping the surface stable. Black or deep tones may be trendy, but on vinyl windows they’re a recipe for disaster.
The Bottom Line
So, can you paint your 1990’s Andersen windows? The answer is yes—if they’re wood, vinyl, or aluminum that has been thoroughly weathered—and if you prep correctly. Just remember:
- Use the right products.
- Stay away from dark colors on vinyl.
- Treat this as maintenance. You’ll likely need to repaint in 7–10 years.
At the end of the day, painting Andersen windows isn’t always simple, but for older units it can be a practical way to refresh your home’s look without full replacement.