Use and Care Manual

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. Apply
paint or stain with the window open, and do not close it until the finish is completely
dry. 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.
• 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 or split. Finish interior
wood surfaces immediately after installation.
• 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
directions for these products are the same as for casement/awning windows.
Please read and follow all cautions and directions when painting or cleaning
both the low-maintenance exteriors and natural wood interiors.
Finishing Vinyl Interior Grilles
There are two types of Perma-Fit
®
vinyl grilles: narrow-profile grilles and wide-profile
grilles. Older windows may feature narrow-profile grilles, which are available for
replacement only and require no painting or staining. The interior surfaces of wide-
profile grilles can be ordered with a factory-applied Tycote
®
coating that allows for
finishing. Remember, wide-profile grilles with this coating can be painted or stained
on their interior sides only. 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.
Finishing Tycote
®
Finish Grilles
Painting Tycote
®
finish grilles: Start by cleaning the grilles with mild soapy water.
Rinse thoroughly, and make sure the grille is completely dry before applying a
high-quality oil-base or latex trim paint. If paint runs onto the exterior grille surface,
allow it to dry, then remove it with a dry cloth and a small amount of mineral spirits.
• DO NOT sand any part of vinyl grilles. Do not use paints, stains or resins containing
lacquer thinner, turpentine, xylene or toluene on grilles. Excessive use of mineral
spirits may damage grilles.
GENERAL FINISHING & CLEANING GUIDELINES
(CONTINUED)
5