How to Prepare Wood Trim for a Smooth Paint Job (DIY)

Introduction

Do you want your old trim to look fresh, smooth and crisp after its painted? These tips show you how the pros do it. They're DIY friendly, so you can prep your trim yourself and still get professional-looking results.

A Good Paint Job Starts With Good Prep Work

The old adage, “A good paint job is 90 percent prep work and 10 percent painting,” is absolutely true. A quick coat of paint applied over existing paint or stain may look good — but it won’t last.

The key to a long-lasting paint job is to prepare the woodwork so it’s clean and gloss-free. We’ll show you how to achieve a mar-free surface that’ll hold paint for 10 years or longer. Whether you’re repainting wood or painting wood that’s been stained and varnished, the steps here apply to doors, windows or trim painting.

CAUTION: If your home was built before 1979, check the paint for lead. Call your public health department for instructions on how to do it. Don’t use the scraping or sanding techniques we show here on lead paint because doing so will release lead dust, the primary cause of lead poisoning.