old stained window frames

critter1010

Do I need to do something to the window frames before painting them?

Ironlight

Not really enough information from you to give you a useful answer. A picture of the windows in question would be hugely useful.

Are these old wooden window frames, painted, and the paint is stained and deteriorating? If so then scrape and sand, prime and then paint. How much scraping, sanding, and filling and/or repair all comes down to what sort of shape they are in. If the paint is old enough to include lead in it then you should read up on best practices for on safely dealing with it.

Gymschu

If they're that bad you're better off replacing them. By the time you deal with the lead issue, sand, prime, sand again, and paint 2 coats, you could have the window replaced at about the same cost.

1910NE

Assuming you are referring to windows which were previously stained (as opposed to painted..) I would use a shellac based primer/sealer over the stain. If it is stain over bare wood, then you shouldn't have a lead paint issue either.

__________________
That's just my opinion. But it's free, so take it for what it's worth to you.

sdsester

Don't want to use shellac if they were stained and then varnished. Shellac will just peel and is usually called for when stain blocking is needed such as with new soft woods and knots and sap or other stain situations like heavy smoker residue. If you plan to paint, use a bonding latex primer/underlay or I would use an alkyd if you can stand working with a solvent based product. Alkyds are the great equalizers. You can put just about anything over an alkyd primer.