Have you encountered a similar issue with black paint seeping between the glass of French doors with built-in blinds, and are there alternative solutions to replacing the doors entirely?
Asked by Birte Hellmich 
3 months ago
Last Updated: September 22, 2024
So, the people who had this place before us painted the french doors with the blinds inside, right? Well, now there’s black paint seeping between the glass. Has anyone else dealt with this? Do you know if there’s a fix that doesn’t involve replacing the whole door?
Is there a way to take out the glass to access the blinds? We have them on our back door window, with screws hidden behind plastic tabs.
Hey , it looks like this is the way to go. I’ll need to tackle the paint and remove the tabs. Any tips on how to do that? Were they easy to remove?
Hey , I heard they come out easily and you can just push them back in afterward.
Great, thanks! I will definitely give it a shot.
Using this tool or something similar should make popping them out a breeze
Oh, those tools look familiar! My husband has something like them for cleaning his guns (oops, I hope I can mention that without getting in trouble!). I’ll give it a shot! I think I can remove those trim pieces and take out the glass, right? Will a razor blade be safe to scrape off the paint? Should I repaint the door and trim while the glass is still out?
Once you remove the caps, unscrewing should be a breeze. Score the trim gently with a knife to cut through the paint and the trim should slide out easily. Clean the glass after scraping it. When putting the glass back, be careful with the trim to avoid repeating the same mistake as the previous owners. It’s possible to paint with the glass removed, especially if you’re sticking to the same color. Any touch-ups needed should be minor, if at all.
Needs to get rid of the black color! All of the interior doors are black, including my French doors and another door with built-in blinds that have a similar appearance.
Make sure you have someone helping you when removing the glass, as the side with screws is usually the side where the glass will be coming out. Have a person hold it on the other side while you unscrew.
Thank you so much, ! I’ll be sure to ask for help – it would be a disaster if I didn’t, right?!?
I had a chat with the manufacturer and unfortunately, they explained that taking out the glass pane would result in breaking the seal and losing the window’s thermal properties, plus it could lead to condensation issues due to the lack of seal..
However, I can still replace only the window part of the door. I got in touch with a dealer for an estimate and now I’m waiting for their response. Let’s hope it’s not nearly as expensive as replacing the entire doors!
Oh no, that’s not good. Keeping my fingers crossed for a lower price 🤞
Mentioned it would cost around $500 per window, but getting new doors could go as high as $2500.. whoa!
Hey Kayla, if the paint managed to get in between the glass, does that mean the seal is already broken in terms of thermal properties?
You know, I’ve been wondering about this too… I think maybe the seal goes beyond where the paint seeped in. Take a look at this screenshot of a similar window with the blind mechanism on the top and right side. Makes me wonder if the seal starts where you can see through the glass.
Hey there, I noticed some green lines marking the paint that seeped through beyond the trim. The whole left or bottom side of the window looks fine, it’s just the top and right hand side where the internal blinds are showing.
The inner trim I’m talking about is actually located inside the window frames.
One way to deal with the paint is to use a straight razor blade to carefully scrape it off.
Oh, it’s actually located under the glass.
Oh, I understand now.
I think a good solution could be to use painters tape to create a clean line and then paint the exterior of the glass in black. This way, it would look neat and the imperfections would be less noticeable. Getting a new door would definitely be expensive.
That DIY project was a total disaster!
Oh wow, that really does sound like a tough situation! Trying to paint around those blinds that are built-in can be quite a challenge, especially if the previous owners didn’t take good care of it. Getting a whole new door would be super expensive, so let’s think about some other options.
If you’re dealing with paint on the outer layers, using a glass scraper could help. Just be really cautious and take your time to avoid damaging the glass. It might also be helpful to spray some window cleaner on the area to make it easier to scrape off.
For stubborn paint, you could consider using a mild chemical paint remover that’s safe for glass. Apply it to the affected spot, let it sit for a bit, and then carefully scrape it off. And don’t forget to wear gloves and make sure the room is well-ventilated.
If you’re dealing with a smaller area, acetone or nail polish remover could do the trick. Just apply it to the paint with a cotton ball and gently rub it off. Some people find that using a Magic Eraser works well too. Dampen it slightly and gently scrub away the paint.
Once you’ve managed to remove most of the paint, check to see if the blinds are still working properly. Paint can sometimes get into the mechanisms and make them sticky or difficult to move. If that’s the case, a bit of WD-40 might help to loosen things up.
Best of luck with everything!
Robert
It looks like they taped the outer glass but must have used a wet brush because the paint ran behind the trim and is now on the inside of the glass. Luckily, it didn’t affect the blinds’ function too much. I’ll need to replace a few magnets that control the blinds, but I noticed there are different types of magnet pieces on some doors that aren’t in the track, so I’m hoping I can find replacements to purchase.
I’m afraid removing the paint may not be possible. One simple solution could be to apply black electric tape in a straight line along the glass. This way, the paint won’t be visible.
Yeah, I think that would definitely be the simplest solution. But I’m worried that using a magnetic piece to open/close or raise/lower the blinds might end up scratching the paint.
How in the world did they manage to do that? Normally, the ones with blinds in the middle have double pane glass that is airtight sealed. If it bothers you, you could consider getting a new glass piece for the door without having to purchase an entire new door. There’s probably some vinyl trim with screws that hold it in place.
Suspects the paint may have seeped through due to a wet brush or a lack of airtight seal on the double panes. He plans to remove the glass to access the blinds, a step he hadn’t considered before this discussion.
Learned from the manufacturer that the only solution is to replace the windows. Let this thread serve as a warning to anyone considering painting a door with internal blinds.
Are you certain it’s only on glass?
Inside
I would then attach straps to the glass to conceal it
The issue with adding trim to the blinds is that they operate using a metal strip and magnet along the white track. Adding trim could obstruct the metal strip and impact the functionality of the blinds. Without the magnet, the blinds may not open or raise properly.
Could try using window paint to cover up any imperfections by taping off the area neatly and painting over it.
Before anything else, I suggest doing some research on the brand to see if you can actually replace the blinds. If you can, you’ll need to figure out how to open them up. Some blinds can be replaced while others are sealed shut.
If you’re able to replace the blinds, you might also be able to open them up and remove the paint.
Hey , just wanted to share that I’m considering replacing my internal blinds. I actually saved a page with instructions on how to do it, so hopefully I can get started soon! Thanks!
You could try attaching strips of trim with glue to conceal the painted section.
With the exception of the area where the mechanism is, I would simply cover it up with a small piece of trim.
Was also considering that option. Maybe some patterned washi tape could be a nice touch if they want to spice things up a bit.
Oh, and also the paint is only visible behind the glass where the mechanism is located 🤦🏻♀️ covering the entire top and right side of the door, while the left side and bottom of the door window have no paint residue!
If the small plastic tabs are damaged, you can easily find replacements online. If you know the manufacturer, you should be able to locate videos on how to take the door apart to fix the blinds. I doubt the glass is sealed because then the blinds wouldn’t be operational. You can carefully cut the paint in the seams before disassembling.
Hey Eric, this is what I’ve discovered up to now. 😕
Just the new text:
Hey Eric, this is what I’ve discovered up to now. 😕
Do you think the glass isn’t sealed if thick paint got between the glass? Paint is pretty thick. If the glass was sealed before but now has gaps where paint can get in, you might notice condensation inside. Unless you live in a really dry area. Can you find out who made it? Check the corners of the glass or labels on the top edge of the door.
I’ve noticed that most blinds like this one that I’ve seen or installed have a magnetic slider on the outside to adjust the blind on the inside and are sealed.
I’m currently searching for Therma-tru, that’s the brand I’m interested in.
I appreciate the heads up. Thanks!
I chatted with the manufacturer, and they said the best solution is to replace the entire window section of the doors. Removing the glass would break the seal and compromise the thermal properties of the windows. I’ve reached out to a local dealer to get a quote on the replacement parts. Fingers crossed it won’t be as expensive as replacing the whole doors.
Just a heads up for anyone thinking of painting doors with internal blinds – be cautious! If you have to, use paint very lightly with multiple thin coats instead of one thick coat. It’s the way to go!
I’m so glad I came across this! We have a similar single door with internal blinds and I was thinking about painting it too. We recently got new dark gray/black siding, and the white door really stands out. I’m curious if painting the outside would have a similar effect. Either way, I’ll definitely follow your advice and do multiple thin applications!
Hey Kellye! Just a quick reminder to keep the paint coats light if you decide to paint. Here’s a photo of the door from the outside…looks like the paint oozed a bit. 🤦🏻♀️
Oh my goodness, that’s terrible!
Please ignore our current messy backyard, but these are the complete doors. Oh, and Caliber wanted to say hi too!
That’s actually quite organized.
I’d suggest taping this off so that the paint edge aligns with the white part on the inside of the glass. Then paint it to match the trim. Alternatively, paint the glass white at the edge. Creating a clean line all around should make it look good.
I completely agree with your thoughts. This could be a simple temporary solution to address this problem.
Maybe try using an exacto knife to break the seal on the black paint initially. This way, it can seep underneath a bit and cover the black area. Definitely worth testing before fully committing to it.
The problem with painting the glass is the use of a magnet to open/close/raise the blinds, which could potentially scratch the paint off over time.
Unless you’re suggesting just attempting to blend white paint back into those specific spots! Haha, that could potentially do the trick 🤣 you can still spot the black paint from outside the house, indicating it spread all over that magnetic slider section of the internal blinds!
I was considering that option as well… if black seeped through, try seeping white instead to coordinate. I understand it’s not foolproof, just brainstorming outside the box here…
Wait, it’s actually located BEHIND the glass?
Kevin s noticed the paint oozing not just on the inside of the door, but also on the outside around the internal blinds. Check out the screenshot I attached to see what I mean.
How about adding a privacy film around the inside to cover it up? It’s an affordable and simple solution.
Check out the outside of the door! It’s still in its original state, never painted, but there is some black paint that seeped through from when they painted the inside.