Spray The Trim With A First Coat It's time for your first top coat, which should be a high quality trim paint! At Culver's Painting, we use Sherwin Williams' Pro Classic or Emerald Urethane. These premium products are specially designed for woodwork and will provide a beautiful and durable finish.
To prevent brush strokes when painting trim, use a high-quality, angled brush and apply thin, even coats of paint. A technique called ``wet-on-wet'' can help by keeping the paint moist and smooth, preventing visible strokes. Additionally, you can use a foam roller for a smoother finish.
Eggshell finish, perennially popular with professional and DIY painters alike, has a low-sheen reminiscent of flat or matte, but it is infinitely more durable than its namesake.
Invest in a good-quality angled sage brush that is the right size for the job. A two or two-and-a-half-inch brush works well for most applications, but if you will be applying paint to windows or other areas with more delicate woodwork you may want to invest in a smaller brush as well for ease of use.
The best option for painting trim and doors is an enamel paint like Benjamin Moore Advance or Sherwin Williams Urethane Trim Enamel! Enamel paints dry smooth and hard, making them the most durable option.
The most common and best sheen for interior trim is a satin or semi-gloss finish. Satin paint finishes have a medium sheen and are durable and easy to clean. Semi-gloss paint finishes have a higher sheen and stand out in a room. They are easy to clean and stand up to dirt, stains, mold, and mildew.
Achieving a Smooth Finish on Trim
For a smooth finish on trim, use a high-quality sash brush or a foam roller. Apply the paint in long, even strokes. Avoid overloading your brush or roller, and sand between coats for the best results. For added durability, consider using a water-based enamel paint.
When painting trim or baseboards, the paintbrush you use can vary based on the size of your baseboards and the type of paint you're using. Typically, a 2 or 2.5-inch angled brush works just fine. Particularly when using latex paint, it's best to paint your baseboards with a nylon or poly-nylon brush.
Semi-gloss finish: This is the best finish for your trims such as baseboards, mouldings and even cabinets and doors. It's also a good choice for highly trafficked area that gets lots of wear and tear such as a mudroom.
Contractors are often requested to use low- or zero-VOC paints, and this is something they can get from Sherwin-Williams in a variety of their paint lines. Sherwin-Williams paint is thick because it uses more solids, which makes it easier to work with and will cover more surface area.
If you want your paint to have a smooth finish, the technique you use is very important. Keep your brush at a 90-degree angle while applying the paint and feather as you go. Between coats, sand the wall lightly using a very high grit sand sponge of at least 220 grit.
Add water for water-based paints or mineral spirits for oil-based ones. Or, you can use additives like Floetrol or Penetrol to extend the open time without sacrificing durability. Meaning, these additives specifically help with greatly reducing the brush and roller marks.
The only edger tool you need to paint the edges of your walls and ceilings is an angled paintbrush. When you use this brush, you will find it much easier to get neat cutting in. That's because the angle of these brushes gives you more control and precision in tight corners.
Brushing is generally the best option for most trim. You can use a mini 4” roller for flat stock trim boards to work more quickly but for trim with complex profile designs a brush allows you more efficiently paint all the edges and grooves.
From a professional point of view, with interior painting, it makes the most sense to paint your trim first, then ceilings, and then your walls. It's much easier and faster to tape off trim than to tape off your walls. And you definitely don't want the hassle of taping them both.
Many people opt to use masking tape instead of painters tape because it's cheaper. Sometimes the substitution works just fine.
The general rule when painting both trimwork and walls is to paint the trim first. Apply two coats of paint to the trim and let it fully dry before painting the walls. Another trimwork painting rule is to choose a color that's different from the wall color. Be sure to use the same color for all trim.
Paintbrush: A paintbrush is an essential tool for painting trim. A short, angled brush is ideal for painting trim. The angled bristles assist with painting corners and edges tidily.
What is the best paint to use on trim and baseboards? Because it dries quickly and is easy to clean, latex paint is a popular choice for trim and baseboards. It is also resistant to peeling and fading, allowing it to keep its appearance for an extended period of time.
SW 7006Extra White
For a clean and crisp look, this white does the trick. Its high light reflectivity makes it an ideal choice for trim and ceilings.
Benjamin Moore Cloud White
If you're looking for a classic, timeless color choice for your home's interior trim, look no further than Benjamin Moore's Color Cloud White. This shade of white is perfect for both traditional and modern styles as it adds just the right amount of brightness to any space.
One of the most common paint color choices for trim is white because it offers a classic, clean appearance. Whether you are looking to brighten a kitchen or simply clean up the look in a living or dining room, you might consider simply painting the trim white.