7 Best Paints for Windows

Buying Window Paint for Glass

Smooth, shiny, glass surfaces are non-porous and don’t have much “tooth,” making it difficult for regular paint to stick.  Although many people claim traditional latex house paint works fine on glass, be prepared: It won’t last long. Like nail polish, after a while it will lift off and peel.

Katrena Luoni, a window display professional and senior visual designer at Design-O-Might, has painted lots of windows over the years. “It’s tricky business,” she says. That’s why she recommends choosing a paint specifically formulated with bonding agents, or a chemical compound that will securely adhere to glass, ceramic and porcelain surfaces.

Here’s how Amanda J. Morris, associate chair of Virginia Tech’s Department of Chemistry, explains the process:

“Paint for glass includes molecules known as adhesion promoters that have specific interactions with glass — mainly the [silicon dioxide] in the glass. In other words, these adhesion promoters stick to the glass like glue, and keep the other components in paint stuck as well. That is why regular latex paint can be scraped off a glass surface. It doesn’t have the adhesion promoters.”

Focus on these keys when buying glass paint:

• Type. Acrylic, lacquer, tempera, chalked, spray, pens or markers, etc.
• Preparation. For every painting project, prep is key. Clean glass surfaces of dirt and oils with soap and water and/or rubbing alcohol, then towel- and air-dry before painting.
• Application method. Via bristle or stencil brushes, sponges, sprayers or fingers. Note: Consider topping with a clear coat to seal and protect your work.
• Adherence. If the paint needs to be permanent, look for products containing bonding agents or that are bakeable to render surfaces resistant to heat, washing and scratching.
• Cost. A small bottle or pot of glass paint can range from $2 to $10. Commercial-quality paint costs more. “You don’t have to use expensive paint,” says Luoni. “I always go with reasonably priced products like DecoArt.”

Whether you’re looking to jazz up glassware or decorate your front room windows for an upcoming holiday, our roundup includes the right window/glass paint.