Painting painted trim requires careful preparation to ensure a smooth and lasting finish. The process primarily involves readying the existing surface before applying new paint.
Successfully painting over existing painted trim starts with proper surface preparation. This ensures the new paint adheres well and looks its best.
Essential Preparation Steps
Based on best practices for painting painted surfaces, here are the key steps to prepare your trim:
- Address High-Gloss Finishes: If your existing trim currently has a high-gloss finish, it's crucial to sand the surface before painting. This step helps the trim accept the new primer or paint more effectively by creating a surface with better grip.
- Clean the Surface: After sanding or performing any repairs, finish by cleaning the trim with a damp sponge. This removes dust and debris, ensuring a clean base for painting.
- Allow Thorough Drying: After cleaning, allow the trim to dry thoroughly before moving on to taping or painting. Moisture can interfere with paint adhesion.
- Protect Adjacent Areas: To protect your walls and other surfaces from paint, tape off the area adjacent to the trim using painter's tape.
- Prime Repairs: If you've made any repairs (like filling holes or cracks) to the trim, all repairs should be primed before painting. Priming helps conceal the repair and provides a uniform surface for the topcoat.
Following these preparation steps is vital for achieving professional-looking results when painting over existing painted trim.
