Trim Painting

If you are painting over existing paint, it is a good idea to use the same kind of paint – oil or latex – that was originally used as there will be better adhesion. Determine if the trim paint is oil or latex by wetting rag with denatured alcohol and rubbing on the trim. If some of the paint rubs off on the fabric, it’s the latex; If it isn’t, it’s the oil. Buy your primer and topcoat accordingly. The primer should be flat. The paint finish is up to you, but a gloss or semi-gloss finish is standard for the trim.

Painting needs a solid, clean, shiny, and disrespecting surface. If there is currently peeling paint on the trim, scrape it off. In either case, the hand-sand on it is currently the trim with sandpaper to soften any finish. Patch any nail holes or other problem areas with wood filler, let dry and then sand smooth. Tape the surrounding surfaces with painter’s tape.

Whatever kind of paint you use, start by laying a coat of flat primer designed to seal surfaces. This will act as a base to stick to the trim and give the top coat of paint a good even surface to adhere to. Prime from the top of the trim higher in the room and work your way down. Put the primer on with a brush, completely covering the wood, but not so thick that it leaves drips or ridges.

Apply paint in the same manner as the primer, from the top of the room to the bottom, starting along the top of each piece of trim. Paint in sections, keeping a wet edge between sections and avoiding streaks and drips. After the first coat dries, apply a second, thinner top coat. Remove painter’s tape at a 45-degree angle toward the painted area to prevent it from pulling up the paint.