Trim Painting Tips

Painting a trim, like crown molding or baseboards, can be a challenge. Follow these tips and tricks to make painting trim a simple task.

Sand the surface first. Use a lower grit sandpaper if the surface is extremely rough, and a higher grit sandpaper if the surface requires minor touch ups. Once sanded, wipe the trim down with a damp cloth to remove any excess debris.

Spackle holes and dents. Use a flexible putty knife and spackling compound to fill any blemishes on a trim’s surface. Wait for the spackling to dry and then sand over the area to remove excess spackle. Again, wipe after sanding with a  damp cloth.

Fill gaps between the wall and trim with caulk. This will help to lessen the look of a seam after you have painted and give the trim that flush-to-the-wall look. Using a caulking gun, pipe caulk into gaps between the seams of the trim or between the trim and the wall it’s mounted on. Use your fingertip to smooth the caulk.

Prime the surface to prevent spots. As with any painting project, it is important to prime a surface before you begin painting. Use a standard primer and apply a coat before applying any color paint to the trim.

Cut in the edges before you paint the center.  Spread the paint as evenly and as close to the edge as you can. Be careful not to squeeze excess paint out of the brush and onto the surface adjacent to the trim.

Don’t put a loaded brush on an already painted area. Instead, paint from the unpainted area and brush towards the painted area. This will prevent uneven spreading of the paint, as well as streaking and visible brush strokes.

Don’t brush paint over an edge. This may cause the paint to drip onto the wall or flooring. When a loaded paint brush is dragged over the edge of something, paint quickly builds up at the end of the brush, which can drip over the edge. If you cannot avoid painting over an edge, make sure the bristles line up with the edge, and do not apply too much pressure to the bristles to ensure excess paint doesn’t build up.

Follow these tips when painting trim in your home. For more help with any kind of painting around your home, contact Montclair Painters at 973-427-4478 or 201-262-0902.

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