Coloured window frames are a great addition to any home, adding aesthetic appeal to your property. However, coloured frames are, unfortunately, no less susceptible to damage than plain white ones. Although uPVC is remarkably resilient and durable, it can still be scratched and pitted by mechanical means. For example, if you accidentally scrape a mortar trowel on the window frame while plastering your room, you can expect a scratch to appear.

Although this sounds worrying, especially if you’ve just invested in some beautiful coloured window frames, the good news is that it’s perfectly possible to repair the damage and restore your window frames to their original flawless state. However, the amount of damage that has been created will determine how to carry out the repair – a shallow scratch may be covered over or buffed out however a deeper scratch will require filling.

The Simplest Solution – A Scratch Repair Pen

Perhaps the easiest solution, at least in theory, is to use a scratch repair pen to fill in the scratch. These pens are commercially available and allow the user to simply apply some replacement lacquer to the damaged area. Although this may sound like a simple option, though, there are some issues to consider. While this may be a good choice if you have window frames that are in an easily matched colour, it’s far from ideal if you’ve chosen coloured window frames in an unusual shade.

Getting the correct match will be almost impossible and you could end up making your damaged window frames look worse rather than better. A scratch repair pen is, therefore, only a good choice if the damage is extremely minor, in a barely visible location and you can find a pen that is in a shade that perfectly matches your window frames.

How To Repair Light Scratches

If you run your finger along the scratch on your window frame, you’ll be able to determine whether the scratch is a light one. If it is – for example, some claw marks caused by your over-enthusiastic pet cat – you may find that you can repair the damage by buffing the scratch out.

Here are a few steps to take to complete this repair:

• The first step is to clean the surface of the window frame, rubbing it with some isopropyl alcohol so that any contaminants can be effectively removed.
• Next, dampen a microfibre cloth before applying two small dabs of furniture polish or car polish onto it.
• Rub the cloth on the window frame taking care to move the cloth in the same direction as the UPVC. Don’t rush this job – you’ll need to buff the frame for at least 10 minutes before you see any visible progress.
• Once you believe the scratch has gone, use a new damp microfibre cloth to wipe down the area that you’ve been working on.
• Use a torch to check the result. If you see any scratches remaining, repeat the buffing process.

How To Repair Deep Scratches

While repairing a slight scratch may not present too many difficulties, it can be far more difficult to repair a deep scratch in your coloured window frame. In fact, it’s only possible to remove a deep scratch by sanding the window frame right down to the naked surface of the UPVC before filling the scratch and then painting the UPVC again so that the repair can be blended in. Needless to say, this can be a tricky task but if you’re keen to try it you can follow these steps:

• Use masking tape to mask the scratched area of the window frame off.
• Use sandpaper to take off the paint layers where the scratches are. Start with 800 grit sandpaper then progress to 1500 grit and finally to 2000 grit until none of the surface remains.
• Use an appropriate plastic filler to fill the scratches in.
• Sand down the filler until the surface is flush and smooth like brand-new UPVC.
• Once this has been done, the surface needs to be repainted however it is very difficult to blend the repair in with the existing surface, especially when it comes to coloured window frames since getting the right shade is imperative. Therefore, it’s best to call in the services of a professional who can be sure to achieve the best possible result.

Although it isn’t ideal to have to repair a scratch on the surface of your beautiful coloured window frames. However, with the right approach, it’s perfectly possible to restore them to their former glory.

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