Painting Trim White - The DIY Nuts

Extra Fine Sandpaper 220
Deglosser
Primer if painting wood trim for the first time
Quality Hybrid Enamel Paint Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel or Benjamin Moore Pro Advance
Paintable Caulk latex-acrylic caulk with added silicone
Drop Cloth or Tape and Drape
Wood Filler or Spackle if needed
Painter’s Tape

If needed, you can use two-part wood filler or spackling compound with a puddy knife to fill large dents and nail holes. Follow the directions, and let dry and lightly sand smooth before moving on.
Use sandpaper or extra fine (220) to lightly sand the area that needs to be primed. We typically use 220 sandpaper to scuff the surface.
Wipe down with a deglosser. You want your molding to be dust-free and grime-free. A deglosser helps prep the surface to be painted.
Let fully dry.

Depending on if you are only painting the molding or the whole room, you have to decide what you want to tape out.
If painting baseboards, you for sure want to tape out the floor. Sometimes there is a little gap you can help slip your tape under.
If painting on the carpet, push the carpet down with your fingers or a flat edge of a tool like a drywall tape knife or paint shield. Then add the tape under the trim the best you can.

Use paintable caulk for a seamless look. If painting the walls, you can also caulk along the top edge of the molding, any gap showing, and more. Make sure you wait 30 minutes or 2 hours depending on which caulk you are choosing before starting to paint.

Brush a coat of primer to areas with wood showing. If you are repainting molding, then you only need to prime in spots that are larger than an eraser tip or spots that are in areas that are highly touched.
Let the primer fully dry.
Brush your first coat of paint. If you did not tape the walls or don't plan to paint the walls, you will carefully need to use a brush to cut in for a clean line. You could also use a drywall knife again to stop the paint from getting on the wall.
If you do plan on painting the walls, just make sure that there are not any drips on the other surfaces.
Paint 2-3 Coats with your trim paint.For best results that will last, make sure you wait for the proper dry time in between layers and apply two or three layers.
Pull the painter's tape away from the molding. We also like to take the tape off as soon as the paint is pretty dry. This way if any paint leaks, you may be able to scrap it off with your nail or clean it up before the paint starts to cure.

Some professionals will tell you never to tape a wall, but we normally have had success with using multi-surface Frog tape and peeling off as soon as we are done.
If you do not want to tape the wall, we understand then you may consider using a paint shield when it comes to keeping your walls clean.
Some small finishing nail holes can be filled with just with paint.
Take your time and take breaks in between tasks. We sometimes rush with the prep, caulking, etc. and then later regret it.
Work the paint back and forth strokes until it feels evenly applied. Be careful not to take away paint you have already applied by overworking the area.
Go in one motion in the same direction with the tip for the final stroke and let dry.
You can use extra fine sandpaper or block in between layers for the smoothest finish.

Cost: under $60