How to Paint Exterior Wood Trim
The final step in the process of painting your house is to paint the trim. The term "trim" usually refers to any part of the outside of your house that is not the same color as the siding. This includes moldings around windows, doors and corners; the fascia; and often the soffits. You should paint trim after you have finished the siding, and although you may have used an airless sprayer or roller for the siding, the best tool for painting trim is a paintbrush.
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Things You'll Need
- Ladder
- Rags
- Paint scraper
- Exterior wood filler
- Sandpaper
- Acrylic latex caulk
- Caulking gun
- Primer
- Hammer
- 16 d nail
- Ladder hook
- Paintbrush
- 8-inch drywall blade
- Trim paint
Instructions
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Set up a ladder so you can access the trim. If you are using an extension ladder, set both feet on level ground and keep the angle at about 70 degrees, or 4 feet of rise for every 1 foot of distance between the base of the ladder and the wall. Wrap rags around the top ends of the ladder rails so they don't damage the paint on the siding.
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Scrape off any loose paint from the trim with a paint scraper. Fill holes and gouges with exterior wood filler and sand it lightly when it dries. Caulk the seams between the trim and the siding with exterior-grade acrylic latex caulk.
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3
Apply a coat of primer to new wood. It will seal the wood and provide a better substrate for the finish coat than bare wood. Open a can of primer and pour half of it into a an empty paint can. Punch four to six holes in the groove in the top of the original can, where the lid fits, with a 16 d nail and a hammer. The holes will allow paint to drain back into the can rather than overflowing down the sides when you scrape excess off your paintbrush.
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Stand on the ladder so you can comfortably reach the trim and hang the paint can on one of the rungs with a ladder hook. You can buy hooks at any paint store. Start at one end of the trim board and paint with the grain of the wood to the other end.
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Hold an 8-inch drywall blade against the edge of the trim board as you paint to shield the siding. Wipe paint off the edge of the blade with a rag whenever you move it to avoid getting spots of paint on the siding.
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Let the primer dry for the time specified on the can, which is usually about 2 hours. Paint the trim again with the top coat. Since you have prepared the surface with primer, one color coat will probably be enough for full coverage.
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Tips & Warnings
Use a high-quality bristle paintbrush with an angled edge for best results. The angle will help you reach corners, edges and other hard-to-reach places.
Reposition the ladder whenever you can't comfortably reach the surface you are painting. It is better to move the ladder, even though it may require extra time and effort, than it is to lose your balance and fall by overreaching.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Design Pics/Valueline/Getty Images
