Trim should
be painted with guards at the edges.
Painting trim can be one of the more difficult paint projects. By its nature, trim is the border around other objects close to the wall, such as windows, floors, and sometimes even ceilings. This makes it easy to accidentally spill paint onto other surfaces. Fortunately, with the right tools and a little bit of preparation, painting trim can be a clean and easy process.
Cleaning
The first step when painting trim is to clean all the trim surfaces. Trim tends to gather dirt more easily than smooth sections of the wall. Trim near the floor can be especially layered with dust and grime. Leaving even a little bit of this dirt on the trim can create lumps in the paint and make it more difficult for the new coat to adhere properly. Trim should be cleaned with warm water and a small amount of soap, then dried before painting.
Protection
Since trim is close to floors and windows, the surrounding areas must be protected before the painting can begin. For floors, a plastic sheet should be taped at the edge of the surface where the trim meets the floor. Leave enough of the trim exposed to allow you to paint it effectively, but the masking tape should cover all other immediate surfaces. Only masking tape is needed for the wall side, as long as the painter is careful.
Brushes
Trim cannot be painted with rollers, so a brush is needed. Typically, two different brushes are used. The first brush is about 2 inches wide at the most and has long, soft bristles that leave a smooth coat of paint. The second brush is a short, stubby version that is used only for painting the short side of the trim, where the masking tape on the wall meets the trim border.
Paint Guards
Paint guards are essential when painting trim. These guards are long plastic covers with a handle that can be held against the wall while painting, especially while painting the short side of the trim. This will protect against any flying paint which would otherwise drip on the wall. The guard should be light and long, preferably a foot or more in length.
Technique
Trim should be painted in the middle first, at the widest place. The paint should then be worked to the edges and finally the top of the trim. Additional painting should begin in the unpainted area and work back to the painted section. The older paint should feathered into the newer paint to produce a continuous, smooth look.
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