Window Frame Painting in Melbourne: Timber vs Aluminium (2026)

Repainting window frames in Melbourne typically costs $30-$120 per window depending on whether they’re timber or aluminium, and the prep is genuinely different for each, treat them the same and the paint won’t hold. Here’s what each frame type actually needs.

Timber vs aluminium window frames: what changes

Timber and aluminium window frames need fundamentally different prep before painting, because they’re different materials with different failure modes. Timber can rot, swell and hold moisture, aluminium can’t rot but has a factory finish that ordinary paint won’t grip without the right primer.

• Timber frames: need sanding back to a sound surface, any soft or rotten timber cut out and filled or replaced, and a primer suited to bare or previously painted timber before the topcoat.
• Aluminium frames: need light abrading to key the smooth factory powder-coat, then an etching or self-etching metal primer, standard wall paint applied straight onto aluminium will peel off in sheets within months.

What does window frame painting cost in Melbourne?

Repainting window frames in Melbourne typically costs $30-$80 per window for timber and $50-$120 per window for aluminium, with aluminium sitting higher due to the extra prep and metal-rated primer.

• Sanding and surface prep: timber frames need more labour here, especially older frames with multiple paint layers or minor surface damage.
• Rot or damage repair: any soft timber needs cutting out and either replacing or filling before paint goes anywhere near it, painting over rot just hides it while it keeps spreading.
• Primer: an etching primer for aluminium, or a timber-appropriate primer for bare or stripped timber, this is the step that determines whether the paint actually holds.
• Access and quantity: doing all the window frames on a house at once, especially alongside a broader exterior repaint, is more cost-effective per window than a handful of one-off frames.

Ask for the primer product by name in your quote, “we’ll paint the frames” without a specified etch primer on aluminium is how frame jobs fail within a year.

DIY vs calling a professional

Small touch-ups on timber frames that are otherwise sound are a reasonable DIY job. Full repaints, aluminium frames, or any frame showing peeling, cracking or possible rot are better left to a professional, because the prep is where these jobs succeed or fail, not the topcoat.

• DIY-suitable: minor chips or scuffs on timber frames in good condition, where you’re just refreshing colour, not repairing damage.
• Call a professional: aluminium frames (etch priming needs to be done correctly), any timber showing soft spots or peeling, and full-house frame repaints where consistent prep across every window matters for the finish to look even.

How Modernize Solutions approaches window frame painting

We assess timber and aluminium frames differently on every quote, because they genuinely need different prep, and we’re upfront if a frame needs repair rather than just paint. Every job uses the correct primer system for the frame material, backed by our workmanship guarantee and $20 million public liability insurance. We’ve been painting Melbourne homes since 1987, and we’re rated 5.0 Star Reviews on Google.

Frequently asked questions

Can you paint aluminium window frames?

Yes, aluminium window frames can be painted, but they need a specific prep process, light sanding or abrading to key the factory powder-coated finish, followed by an etching or self-etching primer, then a topcoat rated for metal. Skip the etch primer and paint applied directly to aluminium will peel within months because it can’t get a mechanical grip on the smooth factory coating.

How much does it cost to repaint window frames in Melbourne?

Repainting window frames in Melbourne typically costs $30-$80 per window for timber frames and $50-$120 per window for aluminium, depending on frame size, condition and number of coats. A whole-house repaint of window frames as part of a broader exterior job usually costs less per window than doing frames alone, since scaffolding or access costs are shared.

Should I paint timber window frames myself?

Small touch-ups on timber frames in good condition are a reasonable DIY job if you’re comfortable with a paintbrush and basic prep. Full repaints, especially where there’s peeling, rot, or the frame hasn’t been touched in years, are better left to a professional, poor prep on timber frames leads to premature peeling and can mask rot that needs repair, not paint.

How often do window frames need repainting?

Timber window frames typically need repainting every 5-7 years in Melbourne, more often on west and north-facing windows that cop the most UV and heat. Aluminium frames with a proper coating system can go longer, 8-10 years, since the base material doesn’t rot or absorb moisture the way timber does.