How to Properly Paint Trim

Painting a home is one of the easiest ways to make it look new and modern. Painting, however, is not something to be taken lightly, as there are always tasks that must be performed before any painting is begun. One of the most challenging areas to paint is the trim around the room. Trim painting can be made much easier when you follow a few basic steps before and during the process, so it is best to take your time and learn the steps you need to take before moving on to the paint job itself. Like many other jobs, preparation is the key to ending up with neat, clean, and smooth trim, so always spend the time necessary to make the trim look good before painting it.

Getting Started

Always identify any problem areas on your trim, then repair them accordingly. Sand the areas that need to be sanded, and use a putty knife to clean out any tight areas. When you are done with these jobs, vacuum and dust the trim completely to make sure that all small pieces of debris are removed. Even when you think you are done and the trim is ready to be painted, check it again to make sure you did not miss anything. If you see a dull spot, it may be a sign that the area wasn’t primed properly; in this case, use a 320-grit sandpaper to smooth out the area again and then proceed with the next steps, which includes spot-priming filled areas and then vacuuming or dusting them.

To make sure paint doesn’t get on the carpet, use this trick: take 2-inch masking tape and place several strips of it along the baseboard, including about a half-inch overlapping the baseboard itself. Then use a putty knife to tuck in the tape between the baseboard and the carpet. This way, once you’ve completed the painting, the tape can be easily removed with a simple tug.

A Few Other Things to Remember

There are other tips that can make your trim-painting time more effective, including:

• Paint the trim first, before you paint the ceilings and walls.
• When painting the area around the trim, use a brush first, then quickly switch to the roller so that the paint ends up looking even.
• If you give the trim more than one coat of paint, make sure you sand the area again between each coat.
• Most experts recommend using an oil-based paint for the trim because it tends to have fewer streaks, dries more evenly, and dries slower so you have more time to paint.
• Use even strokes throughout the entire job so that it comes out smoother and more attractive.
• When you are finished painting, try cutting the painter’s tape off, which is neater and easier to do than pulling it off.

Some Final Thoughts

This may sound like a basic tip, but choosing high-quality products is essential if you want your trim to look great in the end. From masking or painter’s tape to brushes and even tools, it is important not to purchase the cheapest products available so that in the end, your trim will look like it has been completed by a professional.