When you want to replace the wood trim, one expects time, effort and money. Painting the trim offers more dynamics and in most cases is the better solution. In some cases, it is also cheaper than replacing, or even doing it yourself. Professionals can make a quick project out of it. To have the pride and ownership of accomplishing a project, some homeowners prefer doing home improvement projects in their home to not always save money. To help you on your quest, we at McKay’s Painting would like to relate some wood trim painting basics.
DIY VS Professional Trim Painting
There are some factors you need to consider before tackling the job to ensure the finished result is of a high quality. Professionals know the procedure for treating the old trim and preparing it for the new paint. If any element of your deck or wood trim inside or outside was painted before 1979 and with lead paint, it is a safety hazard and needs to be done professionally.
Cleaning Trim Before Painting
The trim pieces will need to be cleaned prior to anything being done. The paint will not adhere to the surface if the dust or residue buildup. To clean the wood and remove stubborn buildup, use a slightly abrasive sponge is adequate. For simplicity, use 2 buckets and 2 sponges, one set for washing, and the other set to rinse the wood. If necessary, change the water as it becomes grimy. Any surrounding plugs or outlets will need extra attention as seeing the most buildup, the trim that experiences a lot of contact such as windows, door frames, around door handles and knob.
Sanding Before Painting Wood Trim
To ensure the primer and paint are able to stick to the wood, sanding is designed to remove the glossy surfaces. With years of extra old paint buildup, previously painted wood trim may need more labor. Use a no-clog sandpaper in any area that seem gummy. Generally, adequate and the coarse sandpaper is good on the large globs of old paint, a fine 180 grit sandpaper to smooth the surface. This step is fairly labor intensive, a sanding block or sponge can make the sanding easier as well. Using a wet/dry vac that have extra suctioning power can make the sanding dust cleared from the surface less tiresome. To loosen any stuck dust, the brush attachment works well. Add wood fillers and spackle the minor holes. To smooth the surface, sand the repaired areas lightly.
Applying Primer & Paint to Trim
Be sure to use painters tape to cover the edges of the walls and ceiling and place protection around the flooring if you did not remove the trim for cleaning, like a drop cloth or plastic. Apply the primer with a 3” angled, or the size appropriate for your trim. Make sure your primer is stain blocking if you had stains on the wood that wouldn’t sand out. Be sure to apply 2 coats after the primer is dry (allow at least 24 hours). Remove the painters tape and drop cloth and enjoy your masterpiece once the paint is fully dry.
Interior & Exterior Painting Services & More in Ventura, Ojai, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills & Santa Barbara California
Saving you from hard work, time and money, McKay’s Painting can get your trim repainted quickly and efficiently and call us today to schedule a consultation.
