How to Paint Wood Molding

Excellent prep work and patience are the secrets to successfully painting varnished wood molding, such as baseboards and door frames.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Brush Cleaners (for Paintbrushes)
• Trisodium Phosphate
• High-quality Brushes Suited To Your Task
• Oil-base Or Water-base Paints
• Plastic Drop Cloths
• Rags
• Plastic Drop Cloths
• Rags
• Metal Teaspoons (regular Tableware)
• Deglossers Liquid Sanding Product
• Blue Masking Tape
• Oil-base Primers
• Sandpaper
• Sandpaper

1. Clean the molding thoroughly with a cleaner like TSP (trisodium phosphate), which doesn't leave a film that could interfere with the adhesion of the paint.

2. Let the molding dry.

3. Mask off the area around the molding carefully with professional-quality blue 'safety' masking tape, pressing down very firmly on the tape edges you will apply paint to. Try mashing down the edges with a spoon.

4. Place drop cloths as needed.

5. Have one or more paintbrushes on hand in widths appropriate to the molding you are painting. Purchase a high-quality brush or brushes with the type of bristles appropriate to the product you are using, either oil based or water based.

6. Apply a deglossing product (liquid-sanding solvent) according to the directions, which will specify a waiting period before applying primer.

7. Apply primer; oil-based primer is best. Note that there's often a window of only 30 to 60 minutes in which primer can be applied successfully over deglosser.

8. Sand rough areas after priming.

9. Let the molding dry; this may take a day or more.

10. Apply oil-based (alkyd) or water-based (latex or acrylic) paint.

11. Let the paint dry. Oil-based paint usually takes much longer to dry - a day or more - but many paint experts feel it gives a more durable finish.

12. Apply the second coat of paint.

13. Let the second coat dry, and remove the masking tape. Oil-based paint should be thoroughly dry before you remove the tape, but some paint experts advise removing tape when water-based paint is still slightly tacky; do what your paint-can directions or paint store advises.

Tips & Warnings

• High-quality paints and brushes will yield better results. Quality brushes provide a more even coat of paint and will last through many paint jobs.
• Clean brushes thoroughly. Do not rest brushes with their weight on the bristles - it will deform the bristles and ruin the brushes.
• Avoid painting on hot, humid days or immediately following rain to avoid getting bubbles in the paint.
• When using solvent (oil-based) products, ventilate the work area thoroughly. Don't smoke or have any type of open flame (even a gas water heater) in the area.
• Be aware of the health hazards of working on old paint containing lead.