How To Paint Indoor Window Trim Like A Pro
Window trim paint is one of the best cosmetic updates you can make to a home with little effort. Trim painting, in general, can restore life to areas of the house that may look worn down inside and out. The process can be relatively easy and quick if the proper steps are followed. Let's get you painting like a pro! From there, you can take on any other trim project in the home.
Window Trim Basics
Window Trim is a cover-all term for the entire window and its components. The main parts that make up window trim are the casing, molding, and interior stop. The casing refers to the material that covers the gap between the window and the wall. The molding is embellishments around the casing. These are only sometimes present. The interior stop is how the window is held in place.
What Tools Do You Need?
A Raking Light to better spot imperfections in the window trim
Pencils to circle the imperfections
Sandpaper to smooth the surface. We recommend getting a sanding block for the best results.
Flexible putty knives to get those hard-to-reach imperfections or paint that needs to be removed.
A vacuum to clean up any dust or debris left on the trim.
Painters tape for the perfect edges.
How To Start?
Now that you know the terminology and have the right tools let's start rejuvenating your home.
Step one: Begin by using your Raking light to go over the window trim to see any significant imperfections you'd like to address outside of painting. Then circle these imperfections for future cleanup.
Step two: Go over the rough sections of the trim with sandpaper to smooth out the surface and get a clean canvas to paint. Going over the entire window casing is always a good idea for maintaining the same level of consistency. Use a small putty knife to remove the paint and flatten the surface before going in with the sandpaper. Breaking away sticky pieces of paint and material sets up good consistency, like sanding.
Step three: Go over the rough sections of the trim with sandpaper to smooth out the surface and get a clean canvas to paint. Going over the entire window casing is always a good idea for maintaining the same level of consistency.
Step four: Clean up the dust and debris with a vacuum and, if necessary, a slightly damp microfiber cloth. You'll want the surface to be as clean as possible. One of the worst things to notice after you finish, painting is hair or other debris stuck under the layer of paint.
Step Five: Apply painter's tape to make clean, crisp edges and avoid getting paint on the walls.
Step Six: Apply the first layer of paint. Using a brush is okay, but a roller is preferred for the most consistent application. Let the first layer of paint dry, then sand it lightly. Apply a second layer of paint, and if you're satisfied, you are good to go!
Keep going!
Don't stop with the window trim; go for the rest of the trim in your house. It's doable with all the above steps plus a little extra planning.
Forrest Paint Co. has all the necessary equipment and the knowledge to assist you with trim painting. Swing by the shop to get yourself ready.
BONUS:
If you're feeling even more inspired, freshly stained decks and stairs are a great addition to fresh trim on your house. Forrest Paint Co. offers an excellent option called Restore-X. When you stop by to grab items for your trim project, ask the team about Restore-X.