Paint the Exterior Trim of Your Home in These 5 Simple Steps

Painting the exterior trim of your home takes a unique approach, compared to painting the entire exterior of your home. It takes patience and attention to detail when tackling these often hard-to-reach areas. If you don’t have the time to focus on re-painting the trim of your home, the exterior house painters at Masterworks Painting & Remodeling are up for the challenge. Otherwise, follow these guidelines for a painting project that will give your home amazing results.

1. Clean All Surfaces

Clean all surfaces you will be painting with a trisodium phosphate detergent or alternative cleaner. Once thoroughly washed, rinse and let dry completely. If any the surfaces show signs of mildew, you’ll need to remove it completely. The paint will not adhere to a mildew-covered surface. Spray with a solution of 3 parts water and 1 part bleach. Let this treatment dry thoroughly and be sure not to rinse.

2. Mask Exterior Surfaces

Use painter’s tape, paper, or plastic to cover any surfaces you do not want to be painted, such as faucets, windows, and siding. Gently lay drop cloths or sheets over any shrubs, plants, or landscaping you want to protect.

3. Choose the Best-Sized Brush

Use a brush that fits the size of trim you’re painting. For example, use a thin brush for window panes, a thicker brush for railings, and a paint roller for porches and stairs.

4. Work from the Top Down

Start at the top of your home and work your way down: gables, eaves, dormers, gutters, second-story windows, porches, railings, main floor windows, stairs, and foundation.

5. Store Paint Brushes

If the trim work takes a few days to complete, there’s no need to clean your brushes at the end of each day. Simply store them in sealed plastic so they won’t dry out. Then you can continue using them the next day.

The pros at MasterWorks Painting & Remodeling are happy to assist you with your next exterior painting project. Call us at (703) 263-3302 for an estimate today. In addition to our painting services, we also offer bathroom remodeling, basement finishing, roofing services, and interior painting for businesses and residents in the Fairfax, Ashburn, Vienna, and Oakton, Virginia areas.

Source: “Painting Exterior Trim.” Web article. Valspar. Web. 27 Apr. 2019.