# How to Paint New Interior Wood Trim
New interior wood trim is not cheap to purchase or install, so you want your paint job to do it justice. Raw wood trim must be primed before painting for maximum smoothness and an even shine. You can skip this step on medium density fiberboard (MDF) trim, which is typically pre-primed at the factory. Choose good quality brushes and paint, to make the project go faster and for a good-looking, durable paint job.
Things You'll Need
- Wood putty or spackle
- Masking tape
- Primer
- Mineral spirits
- Sandpaper
- Caulking gun
- Caulk
- Paintbrushes
Instructions
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1
Fill nail holes with spackle or carpenter's wood putty. Allow it to dry, sand it smooth with 120-grit sandpaper or a sanding sponge, then wipe the dust from the trim.
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2
Prime raw wood trim with one coat of oil- or water-based primer using a 2- or 3-inch brush. Allow the primer to dry.
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3
Sand the primed wood lightly until it feels smooth.
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4
Caulk all gaps and joints. Squeeze a line of caulk along each gap, then wipe it smooth with a damp rag or your finger. Also caulk the gap where the wood trim meets the wall.
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5
Paint the trim with two coats of quality paint in a satin or semi-gloss finish. Modern water-based paints rival oil-based enamel in durability and smoothness. Water-based paints are also easier to use and dry faster, with less odor.
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Previous:
Indoor House Painting
- How to Refinish Interior Trim
- How to Paint Over Semi-Gloss Wood Trim
- How to Paint Hardwood
- How to Strip Paint From Wood Trim
- How to Paint a New Ceiling
- How to Remove Old Paint from Trim
- How to Repaint Wood Trim
- How to Paint Scratched Wood Trim
- How to Mask Wood Trim
- How to Paint New Wood
- How to Paint Wood Trim White
- How to Paint a New Wood Door
