Fastest Way Of Painting Baseboards Before You Install It
It is almost always a given that painting inside trim, such as window or door casings and crown molding, will make your room look clean and new. The same idea works when it comes to baseboards. One of the best cosmetic changes you can make to a space is painting the baseboards, which just takes a day or two. Baseboards that have been painted will make the room gleam like never before. Although you may paint baseboards with either latex or oil-based paint, latex (water-based) paints are much simpler to clean up. Both latex and oil-based paints come in a variety of gloss levels, but a somewhat glossy finish is typically advised for baseboards, due to the fact that it is more stain and scuff-resistant as compared to a paint with a flat finish. For baseboards, a semi-gloss or high-gloss paint is typically the best option.
Tools & Materials Needed
- Drop Cloth, Bucket, Sponge & Putty Knife
- Eye Protection And Gloves
- 1- Or 2-Inch Sash Brush
- Trisodium phosphate (TSP) & Painter's Tape
- Masking Film (As Needed) & Wood Putty
- Fine-Grit Sandpaper Or Sanding Sponge
- Primer & Semi-Gloss Or High-Gloss Latex Paint
Step 1: Clean Previously Painted Baseboards
- With previously painted baseboards, there is no other situation when it is more crucial to clean the surfaces before painting (open-pore wood baseboards should not be cleaned with water). One of the dirtiest areas of the house is where the bottom of the walls gather dirt and filth.
- To shield the floor, spread a drop cloth across it. In a bucket, combine a trisodium phosphate (TSP) solution with water in accordance with the product's instructions. Use a sponge and the solution to clean the baseboards. Dust naturally gathers on horizontal surfaces, so make sure to wipe the tops of the baseboards as well.
Step 2: Patch Gouges And Nail Depressions
- Before you remove the paint, use a putty knife to apply wood filler to major dings and holes that have grown over time. While small, pinpoint depressions can be left unfilled, larger nail depressions should be filled.
- You might discover that it's simpler to just paint over those minute divots if a brad nailer was used and the sink depth was precisely calculated. The baseboards should be filled with wood filler if they were manually nailed with finish nails.
Step 3: Lightly Sand
- Before priming, sand the baseboards with fine-grit sandpaper to remove any wood putty or filler that may have been used during extensive mending or if the baseboards are old. You can typically get away with hand-sanding using a piece of sandpaper or a flexible sanding sponge. Old baseboards that may have received numerous coats of paint require further sanding.
Step 4: Mask The Walls And Floor
- Apply low-stick painter's tape to cover the baseboards' intersection with the floor and the lower edge of the wall directly above them. Even while masking takes time, the finished paint work will be quicker and cleaner. If you paint carefully, a single line of painter's tape covering the wall along the baseboard might be sufficient to provide you with the necessary protection. Masking does not ensure flawless results; you must still exercise caution when painting because excessive slop on the flooring side of the masking tape will make it challenging to remove it after the paint has dried.
- You can use masking film to provide additional protection in that baseboard-to-wall area so that the baseboard paint does not spatter on the wall. Spread the film upward after running the masking tape edge of the film along the wall-to-baseboards junction. Static electricity will cause the film to adhere to the wall on its own.
- When painting baseboards, some painters like to "freehand" paint without the aid of masking. On accessible door and window trim, the cut-in painting technique (painting without masking off surfaces) is challenging enough, but baseboards are far more challenging due to their location. Baseboards can easily be covered up thanks to the horizontal, flat wall surface.
Step 5: Prime The Baseboards
- Always prime baseboards before painting if they have a raw wood surface or weren't primed when they were manufactured. Baseboards that have already been painted or primed can also benefit from a primer coat, although if the cleaned surface is in good shape, this is not always essential.
- The primer should be well-mixed. Apply horizontal strokes to the baseboards after dipping the brush in primer, being careful not to overload it as this might cause drips and runs.
- The ideal way to paint is to place the brush between your thumb and forefinger like you would a pen, hold it horizontally, and press the bristle tips on the baseboard. Fill the brush with paint until the bristles are about one-third of the way down. The nicest brushstrokes are long, deliberate ones. Try to "maintain a wet edge" as you work your way along the baseboard by painting over the edges of previously painted sections before the paint dries. As a result, lap markings are avoided. As instructed by the manufacturer, allow the primer to dry.
Step 6: Paint The Baseboards
- Take your paint can to the paint store to get it freshly shook if it has been sitting for more than a few days. Alternately, give it a good stir after opening the can. The can lid should be placed far from the work area.
- To avoid over painting, dip the brush no more than one-third of the way into the paint, just as you would when priming. Use less paint than you believe you might need for the first coat. Long strokes with the paintbrush should be made along the baseboards' length. Try to maintain a wet edge as you overlap the strokes to avoid lap marks.
- Let the baseboards to dry for at least a full day after the initial coat. Apply a second coat after the paint has had time to cure. Before applying the second coat of high-gloss paint, some painters choose to lightly scuff the painted surface using fine sandpaper. This imparts some "tooth" to the glossy surface, facilitating the adhesion of the second coat. Remove the painter's tape after waiting for the paint to dry as instructed.
Step 7: Clean Your Tools
- Brushes, rollers, and any other painting supplies or containers you intend to keep should all be cleaned thoroughly with soap and water. With the right maintenance, a good brush can last for many years.