Paint trim while on wall or off?
 

I am pulling up my carpet to lay down laminate flooring. While doing this I plan on painting all of my trim white. The trim that I currently have is the cheap MDF crap with grain imprinted on it. I know I will have to prime the trim before painting it and I was wondering if any of you have every taped and masked off the floor and walls and used a power sprayer to paint your trim while it was still nailed to the wall? I don't mind pulling all of the trim off but since I am doing the whole house (first and second floor) as well as the jambs, I though it would be easier to just paint it while on the wall. Also, should I paint the jambs and purchase just the doors or would it be better to purchase pre-hung doors? Thanks.

I think that by the time you mask off all the trim you could have had it already cut in.

I often prime and finish paint my trim in the shop, pin nail it in, fill the holes and then only a quick brush after is all it takes to finish it.

Cheers,

knewshound

Okay, lots of comments on what you wrote....

cool


okay so far

Yup, common

Why? if its already been painted no priming will be required. Maybe a light sanding or good cleaning is all that's required. Sanding to knock down a gloss, cleaning to make sure its clean and the new paint sticks well.

nope - too much work. Just a good 2 1/2" angled brush is all you need. Some painters tape if you dont have a steady hand. You will be done in less time that it would take to mask everything off, spray and clean up spray equipment.

This is usually how its done.

So you are doing new doors? Yeah, prehung will be easier to install. I paint them after they are up.

Your welcome

Handyguys: Haha.....Great response.
Knewshound: Thanks for the comment.

I was thinking that brushing paint onto this cheap trim would leave nasty streaks and that is why I would spray it instead. If I pull up the carpet and tape the already painted walls above then maybe brushing wouldn't be so bad. So I shouldn't worry about priming the trim? I should just take some fine (200 grit) sandpaper to it to rough it up a bit? I planned on buying some white hollow six panel doors and replacing the even cheaper fake caramel color wood grain doors that I have now. It would be easier to replace the whole jamb rather than buy just the doors and hang them? I will have to cut the jamb regardless since I will be putting laminate down. Thanks again.

nah, cheap brushes and crappy paint leave streaks.

Nope, unless its bare wood no need to prime.
only if its glossy. If it isnt glossy just wash it with some TSP or spic and span.
nope, I misunderstood your intention. Just do new door slabs. You will need to carefully mark and cut the new hinge mortises in the right place. Those doors will come pre-primed. I might paint them before installing them if I had some saw horses to use. I wouldn't pull off a door just to paint it tho.

Thanks again. I will quickly sand the trim and paint it without taking it off the wall and just buy door slabs and not pre-hung doors. You just saved me some money. Any recommendation on paint or type of brush to use. I consider myself very knowledgable in home repair but I hate painting and taping/mudding drywall and those are the two projects that I am working on now....of course. I appreciate your advice and suggestions. Thanks.

I like any paint that isn't sold at a home center. Go to a specialty store. Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, etc. Get their top of the line paint. They will make a recommendation on a decent brush that they carry that's best. Purdy is a top of the line brush.

I hate painting and mudding too.

I have to paint my ceiling since I just replaced some drywall. I'll use the same paint for both the ceiling and trim which I planned on getting from Benjamin Moore. Purdy brushes are sold at Lowe's, I used them before. I can't thank you enough for your help.

NOOOOO

You typically use a flat paint on a ceiling. There are some ultra flat paints labeled on the can as ceiling paint. Benjamin Moore has such a product. Its much cheaper than their premium wall paint too.

You typically use semi-gloss pain on trim. Semi-gloss is easier to clean and much more durable for all the bumps that trim takes.

Buy trim paint and ceiling paint separately, to me they are very different products. Yeah, you can use semi-gloss on your ceiling but its going to show every imperfection in your drywall and it wont really feel or look right in my opinion.

Wonderful advices you got there handyguys! :D *thumbsup* :beer: