I’m in a strata townhouse in Newcastle. The body corporate has just updated the exterior colour scheme to a bright white. Still, my interior trim is a warm cream that clashes. Replacing everything isn’t in the budget, so I’m wondering if painting is a realistic option. I’ve seen mixed advice about adhesion, special primers, and whether paint will peel or void warranties. We’re heading into spring with milder days, so drying times should be okay. Has anyone successfully painted these frames for a long-term finish? What surface prep actually works (light scuffing, degreasing, specific primer), and what mistakes cause flaking after a few months? I’m happy to DIY carefully, but I don’t want a patchy, sticky mess.

Did this in my Newcastle townhouse under strata rules last spring. The key was prep. I washed the frames with sugar soap, then wiped them with methylated spirits to strip any polish or overspray. A light scuff with 320–400 grit gave the primer something to bite. I used a plastic-bonding adhesion primer, then two thin coats of water-based enamel. I masked the gaskets and avoided painting over any silicone; I left it for a whole week before opening them. On mild days, the finish levelled out well, and a year later, there was no peeling. If you’ve got outward-opening casement windows, crack them slightly while curing so they don’t stick. Perform a small test patch on a hidden area and review any warranty fine print. I found uPVC Windows Expert handy for straight-up guidance.