Home Improvement DIY

Painting exterior trim is probably one of the most tedious tasks in painting. There’s a lot more thought and preparation involved plus you’ll need to take your time. However it’s also extremely satisfying being able to see that you’ve made a good job of it.

Preparation is Key

Masking - When doing any painting jobs around the house, preparation is an absolute must. You have to properly mask the area so that paint does not find its way onto places you don’t want. When painting exterior trim you should be careful to mask the walls and visa versa. It doesn’t matter if the paint is the same color, do the job properly and you’ll see the results you’re after.

Window Trim – Painting exterior window trim can be particularly tricky. Mutins (the wooden or metal dividers between panes), make necessary precision masking to avoid getting paint on the glass. It may be tempting to wipe or scrape excess paint off later but you could end up scratching the glass. Not a result you want.

The Correct Painting Conditions

Dry Surface – Whenever you have to paint in your home, it’s also essential to have a dry clean surface. If you have a large surface which is exposed to the sun, it’ll dry out much quicker. Sections of trim which have angles and grooves will trap moisture more easily.

If it has been raining, hold off from painting for a couple of days. Also, start the job a little later in the day, to allow morning dew to evaporate. It’s also wise to finish your work before dusk to let the newly painted surface dry before evening moisture arrives.

Temperature – Not only does moisture gather more easily in colder temperatures, cold weather can prevent your paint from drying quickly enough. When the temperature gets really cold it can cause the paint to wrinkle. About 50F/10C is the minimum for most climates.

The opposite extreme can be just as big a problem. High temperatures cause paint to dry too quickly, which can introduce surface irregularities. With oil-based and alkyd paints get too hot they can blister. The compounds separate and a bubbles forms with solvent inside.

Using a Proper Painting Technique

When painting any surface it’s suggested you work from the top down. Dip the brush a couple of inches into the paint, but remove any excess by wiping the brush against the rim. Don’t try to rush the job by using too much paint at once.

Work the brush perpendicular to the grain for the first few strokes. That gets paint into all the miniature grooves and crevices. Then brush with the grain to smooth everything out.

On narrow surfaces such as the window mutins use a brush which is small enough for the job. This will help you get a cleaner line and not get paint all over the place. Even if you do mask the glass, take care when applying the paint. Take your time and be gentle with the brush – you don’t want paint splattering about everywhere do you? This is not a part of the paint job where you can expect to do large sections quickly, as with wall surfaces painted by a roller.

When painting larger areas of trim using a small roller will make your job much easier. A four inch wide roller can do a four to six inch piece of trim just fine. Again, take your time because if you work the roller back and forth too quickly you can cause paint to fleck onto the walls.  Whilst on the subject, why not look at some house shutters ideas?

 

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