Repair foiled window frames: fix scratches, chips and peeling foil
Most coloured uPVC windows are foiled: at the factory, an exterior foil from RENOLIT or Continental is bonded to the white profile. If it is scratched, peeling at the edge or faded, you can repair foiled window frames without replacing the window. Depending on the damage, a touch-up pen is enough, one side of the profile is re-covered with repair foil in the same decor, or the whole frame is re-wrapped.
Updated: October 2026 · Guide by makopan GmbH
In short
- Small scratches and chips in the foil: cover them with a touch-up pen in the matching shade.
- Peeling or torn areas: remove the loose foil and re-cover the area with repair foil in the same decor.
- Large faded or yellowed areas: re-wrap the whole frame instead of patching it.
- Important: the decor has to match. Compare it with a foil sample first.
How to tell whether your window frames are foiled
- Wood-effect decors have a tangible, embossed grain; the surface is even, without brush marks.
- White plastic shows through at scratches or peeling edges, because the profile underneath is white.
- On older windows, the corners (mitre joints) often show a white line or weld seam.
- Often only the outside is foiled and the inside of the window is white.
Not foiled?
If the frame is painted rather than foiled, or made of timber, a foil repair only works once the surface has been prepared. You will find out how in our guide on how to wrap window frames.
Repairing foiled windows: which repair for which damage?
The foil on uPVC windows is only the top layer. The profile underneath is usually fine, which is why almost any surface damage can be repaired.
| Damage | Repair | Material |
|---|---|---|
| Small scratch, chip, nick | Touch-up pen clean the spot, apply a thin coat of paint | Touch-up pen from €14.42 |
| White mitre joint or weld seam residue at the corners | Touch-up pen colour in the mitre groove | Touch-up pen from €14.42 |
| Foil peeling at an edge or corner, tear in the foil | Re-cover a section remove loose foil back to the firmly bonded edge, re-cover that side of the profile | Repair foil, e.g. 3 m in 180 mm for €33.96 |
| Bubbles, hollow-sounding spots, foil lifting over a large area | Re-cover a section remove loose foil back to the firmly bonded edge, clean the surface and re-cover | Repair foil in the same decor |
| Deep gouges, pry marks after a break-in attempt | Smooth and re-cover smooth out the gouges, otherwise they will show through the foil | Repair foil, sandpaper |
| Weather side faded over a large area, frame yellowed | Re-wrap re-cover the entire frame | For prices see cost of wrapping window frames |
| Leaking seal, faulty hardware, warped sash | No foil repair have it fixed by a window installer first | – |
Prices incl. VAT, plus shipping, as of October 2026.
Fixing scratches in window frames with a touch-up pen
For small scratches, chips and white mitre grooves, a touch-up pen is the quickest repair. The shades match the RENOLIT and Continental decors.
- Clean the spot and let it dry. Grease and silicone residue stop the paint from adhering.
- Apply a thin coat of paint only into the scratch or groove.
- Let it dry and apply a second thin coat if needed.
Limits of the touch-up pen
A touch-up pen covers small spots. On wood-effect decors it does not reproduce the grain. If the foil is torn, lifting or damaged over a larger area, it is better to re-cover that side of the profile with repair foil.
uPVC windows: repairing the foil and re-covering the damaged area
If the foil is peeling or torn, the damaged side of the profile is re-covered with repair foil in the same decor. The cleanest result comes from covering a whole side of the profile from corner to corner.
Identify the decor
Take the decor number from your window installer's order confirmation or compare a foil sample against the frame.
Remove loose foil
Remove peeling foil back to the firmly bonded edge and sand transitions and the foil texture smooth.
Clean
Make the surface free of dust, grease and silicone, ideally with the RENOLIT window frame cleaner. More on this: clean uPVC window frames.
Re-cover
Position the repair foil, press it down and trim the edges flush. Touch up the cut edges with the touch-up pen.
Every step in detail, with a video, is shown in our guide on how to wrap window frames.
Repairing RENOLIT or Continental foil: finding the matching decor
A repair only goes unnoticed if the manufacturer, decor and embossing match. Most uPVC windows are coated with exterior foil from RENOLIT or Continental (formerly Hornschuch). We stock both manufacturers as self-adhesive repair foil.
- The decor number is usually on the order confirmation or invoice from your window installer, not on the window itself.
- Without a number, compare samples directly against the frame in daylight.
- Not sure? Send us 2–3 photos – you can create the email for this on our order foil samples page.
The two manufacturers
RENOLIT foil: RENOLIT EXOFOL, for example Golden Oak, Walnut or Anthracite Grey 7016.
Continental foil: skai decors such as woodec, mattex and Cool Colours.
You will find all 250+ decors when you buy window frame foil in our shop.
Renewing the foil on window frames when touching up is not enough
If the weather side is faded over a large area, the white plastic has yellowed or there are many damaged spots, patching is no longer worthwhile. Instead, the window frame is renovated and given a new foil surface, even in a new colour, without replacing the window. Specialist companies call this surface renovation or foil renovation: the frame stays, only its surface is renewed.
Our guide shows you how to wrap window frames. What it costs per window is explained under cost of wrapping window frames.
What foil cannot repair
Foil only renews the surface. Leaking seals, warped sashes, faulty hardware or broken profiles must be repaired by a window installer before re-covering.
Frequently asked questions about repairs
Can you repair foiled window frames?
Yes. Foiled window frames have an intact uPVC profile underneath the foil. Touch up scratches with a touch-up pen; loose or torn foil is removed back to where it is firmly bonded and that side of the profile is re-covered with repair foil in the same decor.
Can you repair scratches in uPVC windows?
Yes. Cover small scratches and chips with a touch-up pen in the matching shade. For larger damage, the side of the profile is re-covered with repair foil.
How do I know which foil is on my window?
The decor number is usually on the order confirmation or invoice from your window installer. Without a number, a foil sample for €0.99 lets you compare it on the frame, or you can send us photos.
Will the repair be visible afterwards?
Hardly, if the decor matches. The cleanest result comes from re-covering a whole side of the profile from corner to corner instead of just applying a patch.
How much does it cost to repair a window frame?
A touch-up pen costs from €14.42. Repair foil is available from 3 m, for example in 180 mm width for €33.96. What a complete re-wrap costs is explained in our guide on the cost of wrapping window frames.
Can I repair window frames myself?
Yes. Touch-up pens and self-adhesive repair foil are made for homeowners. What matters is a clean, grease-free surface and the right decor.
Can you repair the foil on a window frame without re-wrapping the whole thing?
Yes. It is enough to re-cover the damaged side of the profile from corner to corner. The rest of the frame stays as it is. It is important that the decor and embossing match the existing foil; compare first with a foil sample – you can order foil samples here.
What is surface renovation of uPVC windows?
Surface renovation, also called foil renovation, only renews the visible surface of the frame: scratches are touched up, damaged foil is replaced or the whole frame is re-wrapped. This is different from an energy-efficiency window renovation, where seals, glazing or the entire window are replaced.
Repair foil and touch-up pens in the matching decor
Over 250 decors from RENOLIT and Continental, cut to length by the metre. For an overview, see our foil for window frames.