Preparing Trim for paint, Tips for perfection

How to paint trim to achieve the look of a professional painter.

A few basic steps and supplies to achieve the look of a professional paint job will complete your project and achieve the look performed by a professional painter.

The supplies needed are basic;

• Quality paint
• latex paintable caulking
• glazing or wood filler for nail holes
• high grit sand paper (220 grit)
• caulking gun
• nail set (sometimes needed)
• tack cloth

Some carpenters prefer to have the wood trim prior to installing painted with the first coat of paint. Check with your carpenter if new wood is being installed first.

An old saying “Caulking is a carpenter’s best friend”  This meaning that caulking applied correctly will hide many spaces, misses, short cuts and finish the flawless look you are trying to achieve after the wood has been installed.

Once the trim is installed follow these steps to achieve a quality paint job:

1. set any protruding nails with the nail set.
2. fill nail holes with desired filler (let dry as indicated stated per instructions)
3.  light sand all wood
4. wipe all wood with tack cloth and vacuum off
5. caulk as needed all seams and where pieces of wood join together, meet the wall and as desired.
6. wipe excess caulking off with finger or wet rag to smooth off build up
7. Let caulking dry as indicated as per directions on tube
8. paint as desired

A couple of notes prior to starting:

• Make sure caulking is paintable when purchasing.
• The difference from a good tube of caulking to a quality tube of caulking is $3 or $4 dollars difference but the difference is much more than that.  A quality tube of caulking will have more flexibility when the wood moves and the caulking will not fail or pull apart with normal movement.
• Caulking gun:
  • A caulking gun will last for many years with homeowners normal use.
  •  DO NOT purchase a caulking gun that is not dripless.  If it is not dripless when you put it down between and after use, the caulking will seep out of the end making a mess and wasting product.
  • A good caulking gun will cost about $10-$12
• Keep a wet rag with you and wipe hands during application of caulking as caulking on you hands will be harder to remove when it dries.

If you have questions regarding your next painting project pr would like a FREE estimate on the upcoming project, please contact us at www.RAMSDENPAINTING.com or 978-683-9119.

Thank you for reading