I don’t know how long you have lived in your san antonio home but, like anyone else that has lived in their home for a while, you will most likely need to take on a few upkeep or touch ups on your home. One of which being the seemingly simple job of touching up interior trim. Taking simple steps to paint your trim will ensure that your will be flawless.
It’s not until you actually go ahead and get the job done that you realize how huge of a difference it can make. Even with the most beautifully painted walls, ceilings, doors and so on, things never look quite right with damaged trim. And given that it’s not the biggest undertaking as far as home DIY is concerned, it’s more than worth having a go at.
If your like me, you will definitely take the DIY approach, and with that here are some helpful tips to properly painting, the right way:
Step 1. Preparation
As you may or may not know, the single most important step in the process is preparation. For one thing, you’re going to need to ensure that all of the trim you intend to paint is as clean as possible. If necessary, use the rough side of a sponge, as in this instance you’re going to need to rough things up a little anyway.
After cleaning, it’s a case of taking some relatively fine sandpaper and giving things a good going over. You aren’t looking to sand them into nothing, but rather get rid of all traces of the existing shiny finish. There’s also the option of using a small electric sander if you prefer.
Step 2. Repairs
If you come across anything that could do with being fixed, this is the time to get it done. There’s really no point in investing time and effort in painting your trim, only to allow the finish to be compromised by cracks, dents, holes and so on.
Grab yourself some lightweight spackling and apply the necessary repairs accordingly. It only takes a few minutes and is guaranteed to make a real difference. Give it plenty of time to dry, sand it with the same sandpaper and get rid of as much dust and residual dirt as possible.
Step 3. Protect
Time to ensure that all the bits and pieces in the vicinity you don’t want to paint are sufficiently protected. As it’s a relatively precise job, it’s usually enough to protect the surrounding walls, ceilings and floors with some good quality painter’s tape. Use the tape in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, applying it in relatively short lengths, rather than several feet at a time.
Use a putty knife to ensure that the tape is pressed down as firmly as possible, creating a tight protective seal.
Step 4. Apply Primer
Contrary to what some say that it’s not necessary to use primer when painting trim…we disagree. Arm yourself with a small can of the highest quality primer you can find, give it a good stir and use an angle brush to apply it to your trim. There’s no need to be overly generous, just ensure that the surface in its entirety is coated modestly.
Give the primer plenty of time to dry, before moving on to the next step.
Step 5. Paint
Once the primer completely dries, give your chosen paint a stir and use a small angle brush to apply a very thin coat of paint carefully. It’s a good idea to only attempt to tackle a few feet of trim at a time, focusing on perfecting each smaller area before moving on to the next. Rather than attempting to get the whole thing done with one can, plan in advance to apply at least two coats and take your time.
Then it’s simply a case of continuing the process until all of your trim has been painted. After which, you can begin removing the painter’s tape as carefully as possible, in order to avoid ripping the paint off your trim in the process.
Ask the Experts
While most everyday interior painting jobs are within the grasp of the average DIYer, you need to think and act like a pro, in order to produce pro-quality results. It’s important to know the fact that the quality of the paints and tools you use will have a marked impact on the quality of the final result. Cutting corners at any time ensures that you run the risk of jeopardizing the whole thing.
For more information or a free quote in San Antonio, contact us Today.
