CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[WanMan]

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All, I know a lot of you are true DIYers out there and I wonder if you and those hiring out the work put in the trim (minimally floor molding and casement/doors) before you painted. I am at the post-primer stage and holding on the painting as I have not done any trim or installed any doors or casements.

[greg_mitch]

Since some people will remove the trim to paint, I would say you definitely want to paint prior to trim to avoid having to tape everything.

[dturco]

Since you have the option paint first then do trim work. This gives you the benefit of being able to paint or stain the trim work before it is installed. It is much easier to paint the trim while lying flat on a board between 2 saw horses than when it is installed on the wall. The doors are also easier this way and won't have the splatter of the wall paint on them if they're not there to begin with. It also makes for a very crisp look this way. I always remove doors to paint them anyway.

[zaphod]

i paint the trim seperate, it's a lot easier being able to pick it up and turn it for edges and a lot easier on my back if i set it up on sawhorses!!

then all i need to do when painting the walls is get within an inch of the corner (ie: behind where the trim will go) and i can do that all with the roller - no cutting in.

what dturco said

[jkruger]

UH...... she trims, I spray.

[jask]

unless you guys are master trim carpenters, do both- paint two coats on the loose (precut and fit) pieces then after they are mounted and caulked and the holes and joints cleaned up- touch up the areas that need it.

[WayneB]

I agree.
I paint the walls before installing trim.
I prime & paint the trim even before I cut it.
Then cut to fit and install the trim.
Caulk the cracks and fill the nail holes. Let dry completely.
Either just touch up the trim, or apply another coat of paint to the trim, but not quite to the edges, unless you are painting over caulking.

Blue masking tape is cheap in the overall cost of the project.

The finishing carpenter / painter makes or breaks the project.

...Wayne

[ronholm]

If you are putting up stain grade trim... You might want to paint the walls first...

If you are Painting the trim..... for heavens sakes... Don't paint the walls first... If you are picky about the quality of the finish on paint grade trim it HAS to be painted in place with all of the holes and and joints filled and sanded...


You are going to have to "touch" up anyway if you try and paint the trim off the wall... I have tried this many times trying to pick up the pace on projects and in the long run it saves NO time... your "touchups" are almost guaranteed to "flash" (vary in sheen) from the paint you put on the trim while it was off the wall. (its just the nature of a "touchup") so you are going to end up painting the trim again anyway....


Spraying a quality oil based (or lacquer) paint on trim already nailed in place is the only way to achieve top notch finish work


If you are painting the trim with a latex product... (pro classic latex from Sherwin lays on the smoothest of any of the median priced latex enamels.) Just rent yourself a airless(or better yet hire a painter) and shoot the walls and trim with a coat of primer all at once... Then shoot the trim... and paint the walls last... Standard issue latex paint will clean right off any quality enamel, latex or otherwise..... and trying to paint your walls first will not allow a good looking "cut" line b/t trim and the wall if any chalking is required to fill the gaps... which it almost always is...

Oh and if you can't spray your trim... Make sure to pick up some "Penetrol" or (Floetrol for your latex) or similar product to add to your paint... you will be amazed as brush marks seem to almost entirely disappear...


One great trick when "cutting to your trim is to skillfully allow your wall paint to creep ever so slightly onto your trim just further than you actually want it.... (done with your tape or by brush).... Then once you have completed the wall go back with a putty knife or something of the sort... wrap the edge of the knife tightly with a damp rag and carefully clean the paint right exactly to where you want it... This can even be done with a rag very lightly dipped in "goof off" a couple days later if you should discover an error...



When painting an interior... First Trim... then ceilings... and Walls last...


and the rule is... chalk and paint make a carpenter what he ain't...


and you can't chalk and paint till the carpenter is done The only real exception is things like stair banisters... when painted balusters meet stained treads.....



But... I would need to no more about what you expect out of your project to be able to really steer you in the right direction...