Should You Paint The Trim Of A House Before Painting The Exterior?

The process of painting exterior trim involves several steps, including painting the siding, tape around windows and doors, and paint the trim. To ensure the best coverage, remove dirt and dust buildup from the house using a pressure washer. After finishing the trim, remove painter’s tape or masking tape to prevent it from leaking.

To tackle the exterior paint project, use a 3-step process: select colors that complement the period of your home, divide your home into three sections, and paint the siding color, trim color, and walls first. If you decide to paint the trim first, it is generally easier as it is a more seamless process to tape off the trim than tape the walls.

There is no clear-cut answer to whether to paint the trim or walls first, but it is most common to paint the trim first. Many homeowners who use tape for cutting find it easier to mask off the trim than the walls. When painting the trim first, including the edges, the trim “pops” and is the look that our clients prefer.

When it comes to painting the siding, it is best to paint the eaves first, as the back edge of the fascia (barge boards) is normally covered by the trim color. If you paint over damaged wood trim without making repairs first, the paint will only highlight the imperfections and make them more visible.

It is essential to paint the walls first since there can be paint spatters that get on the trim. The trim needs to be the final step and as pristine as possible.

Should you paint before or after trim?

To paint a room, start by priming the trim and baseboards with a high-quality semi-gloss paint. Apply tape to the trim and then paint the walls. Use a ⅜” nap roller to paint the rest of the ceiling, minimizing lap marks. Use a high-quality roller cover and avoid overloading it with too much paint. If a second coat is needed, roll it in the opposite direction. Wait for the ceiling to dry before masking it with painter’s tape. Paint one room section at a time, ensuring to roll out the wall while the paint is still wet to avoid visible brush lines. Paint around the edges of the trim, baseboards, and ceiling perimeter.

How to prep exterior house trim for painting?

To apply paint, ensure the surface is clean, dull, and dry. Remove loose paint, sand, and prime any bare spots. Use an oil-based primer like Hirshfield’s product number 88-6050 for superior penetration and adhesion. Coat with high-quality acrylic latex paint like Housecoat or Platinum Exterior, with a sheen for a smoother, more durable finish. Use Peel Bond, a combination primer, bonder, and wood stabilizer, for peeling problems on horizontal bottom surfaces. Apply two coats of paint over either primer or Peel Bond for a thicker, longer-lasting paint film.

In what order should you paint the exterior of a house?

This is a detailed guide on how to clean and maintain a house. It begins with pressure-washing walls to remove dirt and dust buildup, then moves on to repair damaged surfaces, remove loose paint, caulk trim, prime stains, protect doors, windows, and lights, paint the exterior, and paint trim and doors. The guide emphasizes a smooth, controlled approach, overlapping strokes by 8 inches. The guide also covers the entire perimeter of the house, noting damaged surfaces like wood, masonry, metal, siding, or stucco. Epoxy filler is applied to cracks or holes, and the exterior is lightly sanded. Any loose or chipped paint is removed using a paint scraper or medium-grit sanding block.

When to paint exterior trim?

Wood trim, a popular choice among Bowie homeowners due to its low cost, can absorb moisture and cause irreversible damage. To prevent this, it should be repainted every 4-5 years. Alternatively, aluminum coil wrap can be used to cap wood trim, or cellular PVC can be used as a wood alternative. Contractors near you can help with these options. Fully Cellular PVC, costing $24-28 per linear foot, has a lifespan of 30-50 years and is limited to the manufacturer’s designs.

When not to paint outside?

The Paint Quarterly Institute advises against applying latex paints in colder temperatures due to several reasons. These include longer drying times, increased vulnerability to dirt, insects, and pollen, difficulty in applying multiple coatings, and potential blistering and bubbling. Additionally, the surface may appear uneven, with dark streaks or spots or leaching of surfactant. However, skilled painters can cut paint close in colder conditions while maintaining a clean job.

What is the 80 20 rule in painting?

The 80/20 Rule, an old mathematical formula by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, suggests that 20 percent of the population owns 80 percent of the wealth. This principle has been applied in various ways, such as salespeople producing 80 percent of a company’s sales, employees producing 80 percent of its profits, and 20 percent paying 80 percent of income taxes. However, most artists today spend only 20 percent of their time creating art and only 20 percent marketing and promoting their work. This dilemma is common among artists who are focused on producing art rather than being in the business of selling it.

Andy Warhol, a successful American artist, was a master marketer, promoter, and art business person. His quotes put the Art vs. Business dilemma into perspective, with Warhol’s “Eight Elvises” selling for 100 million in 2009. Warhol’s expertise in both art and business can be applied to artists.

To maximize the success of their art work, artists should identify their target market, analyze how to reach them effectively, have a well-designed website, blog, or online newsletter, utilize social media, email marketing campaigns, PR sites, document sites, bookmarking sites, blogs, YouTube, and other platforms. Artists can also give art demonstrations, talks, and market their work on smartphones and iPads.

These technologies are inexpensive and often free, but the artist’s time and creativity should be the primary focus when promoting their art work. By utilizing these tools and strategies, artists can overcome the Art vs. Business dilemma and achieve their goals in the art world.

What is the general rule for painting trim work?

It is recommended that, when painting trimwork and walls, the trim be painted first, two coats be applied, and the surface be allowed to dry before painting the walls. It is recommended that a different color be selected for the trim and that the same color be used consistently throughout.

What do I clean trim before painting?

In order to clean a trim, it is first necessary to wash the surface with a low-phosphate cleaner and then rinse it thoroughly. Loose paint should then be removed with a putty knife. It is recommended that a high-quality latex wood patch be applied to the damaged areas, with a slight excess of the material overfilled to accommodate shrinkage. The filler should then be permitted to dry. The repaired area should then be sanded with 150-grit sandpaper until a smooth finish is achieved. In the event of the filler shrinking, it is necessary to reapply another layer and sand it after it has dried.

What is the fastest way to paint the exterior of a house?

The rental of paint sprayers represents an efficient method for the application of primer in a uniform and expeditious manner. It is of the utmost importance to back-brush when using a sprayer to work the primer into the wood. This should be done while using a roller as well, with back-brushing occurring as the work progresses.

Do you paint exterior trim or walls first?

Painting trim before walls is generally recommended to protect wood and leave a pleasing shine. Using high-quality semi-gloss paint, paint the trim along the perimeter of the room with a 2 ½ in. angled brush, then use a ⅜” nap roller to paint the ceiling from one end to the other. If a second coat is needed, roll the paint in the opposite direction. It’s advisable to cut in one room at a time and roll out the wall while the cut-in paint is still wet to avoid a visible line. Paint along the edges of trim and baseboards and the entire ceiling perimeter.

Do you paint trim on outside of house first?

To paint a house, start with overhangs and paint the siding, windows, doors, and trim. After drying, remove painter’s tape or masking tape to prevent residue. Touch up areas where paint hasn’t fully covered the surface. Request detailed bids from at least three painting contractors and ask for names and phone numbers of satisfied customers. Visit their homes to inspect the workmanship. Networks like Angi, HomeAdvisor, Fixr, and Google and Yelp can help find local professionals and see reviews from previous customers.