Peeling and cracking paint could have left your window trim in need of a trim or perhaps you are just tired of the colour it currently sports. Whichever the situation, repainting your window trim can give the entire room a lift and a new look. You can get lovely window trim all by yourself, here is how to do so.
- Get the right brush: To paint trim without getting paint on the wall, you can use painter’s tape. However, an easier way around that is to use the right brush for your painting. A 1.5 inch stiff angle brush would do the job neatly as it has stiff bristles that do not splay out all over the place and are precise in application.
- Deep clean: You need to remove all the dirt and build-up on the window and its surrounding trim. Cleaning helps you see the window trim more clearly and makes the paint adhere better to the surface. Do not use a rag or regular surface cleanser only to get your trim clean. Use a scrub sponge and a non-soapy detergent instead. Scrub sponges are better than just a cloth rag because they take out the dirt and grime better.
- Scrape: Use a paint scraper or putty knife to remove all loose paint or glazing. Scrape in the direction of the wood grain and do so gently so that you do not end up scraping away part of the wood. Scrape until there is no more paint to come off.
- Sand: There will be surfaces where paint will have remained and you will have to sand those down. Sanding will create a uniformly smooth surface across the areas that still have paint and the areas scraped down to bare wood. Besides having a uniform surface, sanding will increase the adhering power of the new paint. To sand, you can use a sanding sponge or block.
- Protect windows: Protect your windows so that you do not get paint on the glass. To do this, you use painter’s tape on the glass. A neat alternative to this would be to apply a coat of Vaseline or chapstick on the glass. Note that you do not have to cover the whole glass, covering just the areas close to the trim will suffice.
- Prime windows: Usually you would have to prime before you paint. However, with some paints, for example, some oil based paints, there is no need for priming. If your paint requires you to prime first, apply a coat of primer to the whole surface of the window trim.
- Paint: Once your primer is completely dry or if you do not need to prime, then it is time to paint. You may need more than one coat of paint to get the job done especially if you are changing the colour of your trim. Apply one coat of paint all over the trim and when it is dry, apply another if needed.
- Clean and clean: After painting, get rid of any excess paint that might have gotten on the glass. You can use a pointy Q-tip or the tip of a sharp razor blade. When you are done with this, allow the paint to completely dry. Once paint is dry, clean the windows and trim to remove any stray dirt and fingerprints using a surface cleaner and a cloth rag. This will improve the shine.
Now, you have a beautiful and brand new looking window trim.
