Use and Care Manual

GENERAL FINISHING & CLEANING GUIDELINES

(CONTINUED)

Interior Finishing

To finish the natural wood interiors, use a high-quality oil-base stain, oil-base

paint or latex paint. Properly mask off the perimeter of the sash using painter’s

tape. When finishing the 200 Series window, you need to remove the sash from

the frame. Paint or stain the 400 Series window with the sash open, and do not

close the sash until the finish has dried thoroughly. All stains should dry overnight

before topcoat is applied. After staining, the surfaces should be topcoated with

a quality conventional lacquer, varnish, or polyurethane. Never clean up paint or

stain on glass surface with a metal razor blade. Use a clean cloth or clean plastic

scraper to avoid damage to the glass surface. Some hidden areas on double-hung

windows must be finished. See unit-specific installation guides for details.

Installation guides are available online at www.andersenwindows.com.

Please read and follow all cautions and directions when painting or cleaning

both the low-maintenance exteriors and natural wood interiors.

• DO NOT expose unfinished wood to high moisture conditions, excessive heat

or humidity. Finish interior wood surfaces immediately after installation. Unfinished

wood surfaces will discolor, deteriorate and/or may bow and split.

• DO NOT stain or paint weatherstrip, silicone beads, vinyl, glass or hardware.

Specialty Windows

Andersen

specialty units include Flexiframe

, custom arch, arch, Springline

™

, Circle Top

™

quarter round, elliptical, circle and oval windows. The maintenance and finishing

instructions contained in this guide also apply to these products.

Finishing Wood Interior Grilles

• Thoroughly read the paint or stain manufacturer’s instructions prior to applying the

finish. Failure to do so may result in poor appearance or damage to your grilles.

The exterior side of each wood interior grille is painted to match the window’s exterior.

This side should not be finished. Always finish removable grilles before installing

them on the sash. Prior to finishing the interior side, lightly sand the inside face

of the grilles with fine sandpaper or steel wool. Remove dust particles with a soft,

dry cloth. Use a high-quality oil-base stain, oil-base paint or latex paint. Apply

paint or stain in an open, well-ventilated area. All stains should dry overnight before

further finishing is attempted. After staining, the grille surfaces should be finished

with a quality conventional lacquer, varnish, or polyurethane.