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Glass paint and exterior projects

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Glass paint and exterior projects

Glass paint and exterior projects

Glassprimer™ glass paint is engineered to perform in tough conditions, and it’s suitable for use in exterior projects. Glassprimer™ glass paint is self-priming, and forms a permanent-bond with both interior and exterior architectural glass. It is also classified as a low-VOC coating, which means it won’t generate a lot of noxious paint fumes.

Glass paint works on many surfaces!

You may not have thought of Glassprimer™ glass paint as good choice for exterior projects, but it offers a number of advantages. Although the Glassprimer™ glass paint warranty applies only to interior applications, it offers excellent coverage, fast curing (when used with the specially formulated Glassprimer catalyst), excellent resistance to UV light and temperature resistance to 350 F. You can also count on Glassprimer™ glass paint to provide excellent resistance to harsh chemicals you’re likely to encounter outside, like gasoline, oil, salt, sulfuric acid, ammonia, Xylene and hydrochloric acid. Glassprimer™ glass paint is resistant to humidity and direct contact with water, although we do not recommend immersion in water.

Because Glassprimer™ glass paint offers a thermal resistance to 350 F, you can safely apply it to outdoor surfaces that receive direct sun exposure and are likely to retain heat. Once the paint has cured, it will not peel, fade, crack or bubble. We can also match virtually any paint palette from any major paint manufacturer. That gives you maximum flexibility when decorating the exterior of your home.

One important key to remember when applying glass paint is that thin coats work best. Thin coats allow glass paint to dry and cure properly. Thick coats of paint substantially increase the drying and curing time for glass paint. When applied in thin coats, glass paint typically dries to the touch in about 2-3 hours, and can be handled safely in about 4 hours. Full curing usually requires 24-48 hours, provided that you have used the specially formulated Glassprimer catalyst. Thicker coats of paint will require longer curing time.

To test for a complete cure, press your fingernail into an inconspicuous area of the painted object. If you cannot leave a mark, and the surface of the paint feels like glass, the paint is completely cured. At this point, you can install a glass-painted surface.

If you’d like more information about using glass paint in exterior projects, please visit our site. If you’d like to order glass paint, please visit our online store.

Photo Credit: Jenny Kennedy-Olsen, via FreeImages.com

Using glass paint around the stove

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Using glass paint around the stove

Using glass paint around the stove

You can decorate with backpainted glass anywhere in your home, but backpainted glass is particularly useful in the kitchen. Not only does it offer an attractive appearance, it is readily available and highly durable.

Considerations for glass paint around the stove

The kitchen is a special environment. During any given day, the kitchen can see wide variations in both temperature and humidity. The materials you use in the kitchen need to be able to withstand these conditions. They also need to be able to tolerate daily cleaning and sanitizing.

Glass can meet all of these requirements. In fact, glass is a popular protective material in European kitchens. Glass is exceptionally versatile, but there are some special considerations for using it around the stove. Stoves and ovens can easily generate temperatures in excess of 500 degrees. The huge temperature differential in the area around the stove can put a lot of stress on glass. To avoid the potential for breakage, you’ll want to use tempered glass in any area where high temperatures are possible.

Glassprimer&153; glass paint is specially formulated to bond to all types of glass. This allows you to add glass safely to your kitchen, and decorate it to suit your tastes. Glassprimer&153; will form a permanent bond with the glass, which will protect the paint from changes in humidity and temperature. Glassprimer&153; glass paint won’t chip, bubble, peel or crack, even in the kitchen environment.

In areas of the kitchen that aren’t subjected to high heat, you can use non-tempered glass. This gives you greater flexibility because you can safely cut or trim non-tempered glass to accommodate electrical outlets, switches and other features that are common around kitchen countertops. If you need to cut glass that you intend to use around the stove, you’ll need to measure and cut the glass first, and then have the glass tempered to protect it from heat damage.

If you’d like more information about working with glass paint around the stove, or making backpainted glass to use in the kitchen or another area of your home, please check out the rest of our site! If you’d like to order glass paint, please visit our online store.

Photo Credit: Carlos Paes, via FreeImages.com

Backpainted Plexiglas using glass paint

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Backpainted Plexiglas using glass paintGlass paint can be used on Plexiglas, just like it can be used on a glass surface. Glassprimer™ glass paint will make a permanent bond with Plexiglas. Since Plexiglas is more flexible than glass, backpainted Plexiglas can be used in a wide range of applications.

Backpainted Plexiglas is flexible and lightweight

For large installations, Plexiglas is preferred, since it is lightweight, inexpensive and can be precision-cut to fit tight locations. The only areas in which backpainted Plexiglas should not be used are those where extreme temperature fluctuations are likely. This includes kitchen spaces and areas around fireplaces.

It’s most convenient to cut the Plexiglas to its final shape prior to painting. Cutting the Plexiglas first will avoid the possibility of damaging the paint during the cutting process.

As with glass, a successful backpainted Plexiglas project requires some simple surface preparation. To prepare Plexiglas, first wash it to remove dirt, dust and grease that might interfere with good coverage or adhesion. You can wash Plexiglas with any soap or surface preparation that removes grease and dirt.

Standard rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) can also be used to clean the surface, even though alcohol can soften Plexiglas over a long period of constant exposure. Plexiglas can be safely exposed to household cleaners containing ammonia or bleach. (As a caution, do not combine cleaners that contain ammonia and bleach because that solution will produce a noxious, toxic gas called chloramine.)

Once the Plexiglas is cleaned, you can dry it with regular paper towels. Plexiglas is prone to developing a static charge that will attract lint, dust and pet hair. As with glass preparation, avoid using “lint-free” paper towels or new cleaning towels that may shed lint on the newly cleaned Plexiglas.

When the Plexiglas is dry, sand it gently with fine grit sandpaper or steel wool. This will lightly abrade the surface of the Plexiglas and help the paint to adhere. After sanding, rewipe the surface of the Plexiglas to remove any debris or dust created by the sanding.

Once the surface is dry, it is ready to be painted. You can apply paint using a brush, roller or spray gun. As with glass, a paint sprayer will provide the most uniform application, and will help conserve paint. Apply a thin coat of paint to the surface and allow it to dry to the touch. A thin coat will dry more quickly and you can avoid runs and drips. Apply as many coats as needed to achieve the desired result.

Once the paint has completely dried and cured, you can attach the backpainted Plexiglas to the surface using a neutral cure silicone glue.

If you’d like more information about working with Glassprimer™ glass paint, please check out our site!

Put a backpainted glass backsplash in your kitchen

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Put a backpainted glass backsplash in your kitchenWhether you’re trying to protect the wall around your sink or stove, a backpainted glass backsplash can help protect your walls and add a dash of color at the same time. Glass is a great medium to use in the kitchen because it’s impervious, easy to clean and looks great year after year! Unlike ordinary paint, a backpainted glass backsplash won’t stain, fade or peel over time.

Working with backpainted glass

Glass is easy to work with in the kitchen, which gives you another reason to consider it as a decorative and functional element. There are some considerations you should be aware of, however. If you intend to put glass behind or beside your stove, you’ll want to use tempered glass. Tempered glass resists impacts and shattering. More importantly, it can withstand the wide, rapid changes in temperature around the stove. You can purchase tempered glass in custom or standard sizes.

Paint the tempered glass on one side, using the color(s) of your choice. You can choose paints that offer an opaque, translucent or transparent effect. Using glass paint will give you a few advantages. First, once glass paint has cured, you can safely use mastic to attach the glass to the wall without worrying that the glue will show through the paint. Second, glass paint will resist humidity, which is typically in abundance in the kitchen!

Ordinary paint never truly cures on glass, so it will peel, crack and bubble, virtually right away. Glass paint forms a permanent bond with the glass, so your backpainted glass backsplash will look like new for years to come.
If the area you intend to cover with a backpainted glass panel currently has electrical outlets, you’ll need to move the outlets before you install the glass. You cannot cover outlets with glass, and you can’t cut tempered glass, so you’ll need to move the outlets before undertaking your project.

It sounds daunting, especially if you’re not skilled in electrical work, but moving the outlets isn’t as complicated as it might seem. Angled power strips can allow you to place electrical outlets wherever you need them without having to recess them into a wall. You can use angled power strips under cabinets, on your countertops or underneath your countertops. You may even find that angled power strips allow you to add power exactly where you need it.

If you’d like more information about working with glass paint, or creating a backpainted glass backsplash for your kitchen, please check out the rest of our site!

Photo Credit: , via FreeImages.com

Glass paint and paint brushes

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Glass paint and paint brushes

Glass paint and paint brushes

You can apply glass paint with any number of tools. The “best” tool for the job depends upon what you’re doing, and how much glass surface you’re trying to cover. If you have a large surface to paint, you’ll probably opt to use a paint sprayer or a paint roller. For small surfaces, or for adding details, you’ll want to use a paint brush.

The best paint brushes for glass paint

Beyond using good quality mohair paint brushes, there’s nothing special about your brush selection. You can use any cut and size – round, flat – whatever works for your project. You’ll want to avoid synthetic brushes – not because the brush can’t take the paint, but because it will be harder to clean the glass paint off of a synthetic brush than one made with natural hair.

To clean glass paint from a paint brush, you’ll want to use acetone. A brush with synthetic bristles may not stand up well to acetone. Likewise, if you’re not careful, a lower quality paint brush (one that is predominantly plastic) may be negatively affected by acetone as it evaporates.

If you have a larger surface area to cover, you can still use a paintbrush. Let the size of your glass determine the size of your brush. If you intend to use a larger paintbrush, you may want to condition the paintbrush by dipping the bristles into acetone and allowing it to dry. Submerge the brush all the way to the ferrule and allow the paintbrush to dry naturally. Conditioning the brush prior to use will make it easier to clean the brush after you’ve finished painting.

Once you are ready to paint, remember to dip your paintbrush into the paint no more than about one-third to one-half of the way to the ferrule. This will help prevent the brush from being overloaded with paint, and will help you maintain good control over the amount of paint you’re working with at any given time.

You’ll want to use at least three coats of paint when working with glass. When working with a brush, you need to be mindful of the amount of paint you apply to each coat. Thicker coats will take longer to dry. Thinner coats will allow you to achieve more consistent coverage over a large piece of glass.

If you’d like more information about working with glass paint, or you’d like to order glass paint online, please visit our online store.

Photo Credit: Pascal Thauvin, via FreeImages.com

Humidity and glass paint

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Humidity and glass paint

Humidity and glass paint

Glass paint is a specialty product, and it has qualities that ordinary paint doesn’t have. You might be tempted to think that ordinary paint will perform well when backpainted onto glass, especially if the painted glass is then bonded to a wall – as you might see with a kitchen backsplash. After all, the glass will protect the paint from splatters and humidity, and glass paint isn’t really necessary, right?

A permanent bond discourages humidity

When paint cures, it hardens and becomes resistant to dirt, grease and contact damage. Ordinary paint doesn’t ever bond to glass, so it never really cures. Without curing, the paint will be subjected to contact damage, chemical damage from glues and damage from the humidity in the air. Ordinary paint will continue to absorb humidity, so not only will it not be cured, it won’t even stay dry. In a relatively wet place like a kitchen or bath, this will cause immediate problems.

If the paint is wet, it will peel away from the glass surface. The paint will bubble and flake – something you certainly don’t want in a kitchen! The relative humidity in the kitchen changes every time you cook something, so ordinary paint on glass will be subjected to these wide swings in humidity every day.

Humidity is a double-edged sword. Just as a room can be moister than average, it can also be drier than average. Ordinary paint in a place like a kitchen may be subjected to higher than average humidity, followed by lower-than-average humidity. Just as the paint absorbed moisture from the air, it will release moisture back into the air when the humidity drops. This will cause the paint to shrink and crack – something else you don’t want in the kitchen.

In short, applying ordinary paint to glass and then attaching the glass to the wall will not create the same effect as glass paint will, and it will create a mess in your food preparation area. The solution is to use true glass paint. Glassprimer™ glass paint forms a permanent bond to glass, and resists the effects of changes in humidity. When properly applied, glass paint will withstand the rigors of kitchen duty for years.

If you’d like more information about working with glass paint, or you’d like to buy glass paint, please visit our online store.

Photo Credit: Dave Gostisha, via FreeImages.com

Glass paint in the bathroom

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Glass paint in the bathroom

Glass paint in the bathroom

The bathroom is another room in your home ideally suited for glass paint. Glass paint can be applied to a wide range of surfaces, but it’s particularly good at making a permanent bond with impervious surfaces like glass and tile. Here are a few suggestions for working with glass paint in the bathroom.

Preparing tile surfaces for painting

Glass paint works exceptionally well on the tile surfaces you’re likely to find in the bathroom. If you’re working with tiles that have already been set, take a good look at them. If you see mold or mildew on the tiles, grout or caulk, clean the affected area with a strong bleach solution. This will kill the growth and eliminate any stains that may have been created. Also, check the grout around the tile. If it has shrunk or cracked, remove the old grout and regrout before starting your paint project. Clean any stray grout off of the surface before you move forward. If you want to protect the grout from any stray paint, seal it with a grout sealer, and cover it with painter’s tape or masking tape prior to painting.

Once you’ve addressed any mold or mildew, and repaired or replaced the grout, clean the tiles as you would any other glass surface. Use alcohol and fine-grit steel wool to remove any remaining grease, soap residue or other dirt that may accumulate on the tiles. Dry the tile surfaces with ordinary paper towels. If you’re working with tiles that have not yet been set, just clean the surface with alcohol and steel wool. Wipe dry with ordinary paper towels.

Painting on bathroom tiles

Bathroom tiles have been glazed, but glass paint will bond to the glaze just as it would to glass. A small, high-quality brush will allow you to control the paint well on tiles that have already been set. You can create decorative freestyle patterns, or you can also work with a stencil to achieve your desired look. Wipe up any spills or drips immediately with a small amount of acetone. The tiles should be try to the touch in about 2 hours or less. They will be safe to handle in about 4 hours, and cured in 24-48 hours, provided you also use the Glassprimer™ glass paint catalyst. We do not recommend skipping the catalyst for “working” surfaces like bathroom tile. Without the catalyst, glass paint can take as much as a year to cure completely.

Painting on other surfaces

You can also use glass paint in the bathroom on surfaces like mirrors and windows. The key to a successful application is careful surface preparation, and the use of the catalyst to promote rapid curing. Once the paint is cured, it will stand up to the extreme changes in humidity that you will see in a bathroom.

If you’d like more information about working with glass paint in the bathroom, or you’d like to buy glass paint, please visit our online store.

Photo Credit: blue sky, via FreeImages.com

Removing glass paint

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Removing glass paint

Removing glass paint

Glassprimer™ glass paint is an interesting and versatile medium. You can use multiple coats and application techniques to achieve your desired result. Since glass resists creating a permanent bond with paint, most ordinary paints won’t stick to glass for very long. Factors like humidity, the impermeability of glass and even the paint itself affect how paint sticks to glass. While most paints will dry to the touch in a relatively short amount of time, paints applied to glass won’t “cure.” That is, they never harden enough to make themselves resistant to damage.

A few options for removing glass paint


Glassprimer™ glass paint is specially engineered to cure on glass. Without our special catalyst, the curing process can take as much as a full year. With the catalyst, Glassprimer™ glass paint cures in as little as 24-48 hours.

But that opens up the question – is removing glass paint possible, and how would you do that?

Mistakes happen – and sometimes, you just change your mind about what you want! You can still remove Glassprimer™ glass paint from glass after you’ve applied it to the glass. The trick is to act quickly!

If the paint is still wet, removing glass paint is easy when you use acetone or a standard paint stripping fluid. Once you’ve removed the paint completely, re-prepare the glass surface using isopropyl alcohol. You can then reapply the glass paint to the surface.

If the paint has already cured, you’re on the clock! Glass paint cures in about 1-2 days if you’ve used the Glassprimer™ catalyst. In this case, you’ve got about two weeks to act. Lay the glass on a flat surface or on the ground, paint side up. Pour or spray a commercially available paint stripping formula onto the paint and let the paint stripper stand. The stripping compound will soften the paint and in just a few minutes, you’ll be removing glass paint easily. You can use a hose or pressure washer to fully dislodge the remaining paint from the glass. You can also use a good degreaser to remove the rest of the paint.

Depending upon how long the paint has been on the glass, you may find that removing glass paint can be difficult in spots. You can repeat the stripping process to target these stubborn areas, or you can tackle them with a single-edged razor. Be careful to avoid scratching the glass. Once the paint has been released, you can re-prepare the glass and start fresh!

If the paint has been on the glass for a long time, rather than removing glass paint, you may be better off starting with a fresh piece of glass, since the Glassprimer™ glass paint bond is generally permanent after about two weeks.

If you’d like more information about removing glass paint, please visit us at glasspaint.com.

Photo Credit: Ariel Camilo, via FreeImages.com

Cleaning Up Glass Paint

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Cleaning Up Glass Paint

Cleaning Up Glass Paint

Working with glass paint is easy, as long as you have the right tools on hand. In addition to having the right tools to apply glass paint, you should also have the right tools for cleaning up glass paint after you’ve finished your project. Here are a few tips for cleaning up glass paint.

Cleaning up glass paint from your sprayer, brushes and rollers


As a general rule, paint is easier to clean up when it’s wet, so the more quickly you clean your painting tools after use, the easier the job will be. Solvents also make the job of cleaning up glass paint easier, so you should have protective gear to cover your hands, eyes and clothes, and you should work in a well-ventilated area and away from open flames or other ignition sources.

If you use a high-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) paint sprayer, you’ll want to make sure that all of the sprayer parts have been cleaned thoroughly after you’ve finished using it. Cleaning up glass paint from a sprayer is best done immediately after you’ve finished your painting project. Glassprimer™ glass paint dries to the touch in about 2 hours, but in small quantities – like what you’d find left in a paint sprayer – drying can occur much quicker.

Acetone will soften and dissolve drying (and dried) glass paint on your sprayer parts. To clean the canister of your sprayer, use an acetone-soaked cleaning cloth or brush. This will thin and dissolve any glass paint in your sprayer canister. Once the canister is clean, spray a steady stream of acetone through the sprayer nozzle for 30 to 60 seconds. This should clean all of the nozzle parts. You can repeat this process until all parts of the sprayer are clean. You can also disassemble the sprayer and clean the individual parts with acetone as needed.

You can also use acetone to clean paintbrushes, provided that the brushes are high quality and can withstand acetone. Some painters also “prime” the brush with acetone and allow it to drip dry prior to use. When using the brush, don’t dip it farther than about halfway into the paint. This will help prevent paint from accumulating and hardening at the base of the brush – which makes it very difficult to clean! Pay attention to the materials that comprise the body of the brush, as acetone fumes may damage plastic. Once the brush has been cleaned

Acetone can also be used to clean solvent-resistant rollers. Many less expensive paint rollers have a plastic core, which won’t resist a strong solvent like acetone. You can also damage the nap of the roller by using acetone on a roller that isn’t solvent-resistant. Choose your paint rollers carefully and make sure that all parts of the roller can withstand acetone.

If you’d like more information about working with glass paint, please visit us at glasspaint.com.

Photo Credit: Penny Matthews, via FreeImages.com

Painting techniques for glass paint

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Painting techniques for glass paint

Painting techniques for glass paint

There’s nothing that looks better than an absolutely crisp, straight paint line. If you’re doing some decorative painting, you may want to know how you can achieve professional quality results without actually being a professional painter. Here are a few tips to help you achieve professional results with glass paint.

Achieving a straight line with glass paint


You can easily achieve a straight line by carefully applying painter’s tape to your surface before painting it. Use a high quality painter’s tape to avoid leaving sticky residue on the glass when you remove the tape. Let the paint cure before removing the tape!

Because glass paint takes 24-48 hours to cure, you will want to use extreme care when removing the tape to avoid damaging the paint that abuts the tape. If you intend to paint the previously taped areas using a different color, reclean the freshly exposed areas with rubbing alcohol to ensure that no adhesive from the tape remains. Cured glass paint offers excellent resistance to rubbing alcohol.

Even coverage with glass paint


If even coverage is your goal, a HVLP paint sprayer will be your best friend. To get the best coverage, move the paint sprayer in even strokes horizontally across your glass surface. Once the surface has been coated, repeat with vertical strokes to cover any spots you may have missed. Extend your strokes beyond the edges of the work piece to ensure an even coating across the entire glass surface.

Texture with glass paint


Glass paint doesn’t usually preserve brush strokes very well, but you can get variance in paint thickness by using a sponge or stippling brush. If you’re working with a small piece of glass, a paintbrush or small hand-held sponge may be the best tool. For large pieces of glass, a solvent-resistant sponge roller and very thin coats of paint will provide better variability in coverage.

Stencils


You can work with stencils to achieve patterns in glass paints. Make sure your stencil is firmly positioned. The film used for window clings (which can be found in home improvement and craft stores) is a clever way to create and apply stencils to glass. Because they hold well and don’t leave a residue, they’re ideal for creating more intricate patterns. As with painter’s tape, you’ll want to wait until the paint is cured to remove the stencil.

If you’d like more information about glass paint, or would like to purchase glass paint online, please visit our online store.

Photo Credit: Michelle Kwajafa, via FreeImages.com