A Fresh, New Look

2 Options For Refinishing Your Old Wall Trim

Over time, the wood trim in a house can begin to look bad. It might be covered with paint splatters or dirt, and it might be an eyesore to you. If the trim in your house looks really bad, you do not need to replace it all to make it look nicer. In fact, you could hire a painting company to refinish the wood trim for you. There are several different ways they can do this, and here are two of the most common options you could choose from, along with the steps needed to complete the jobs.

The Two Options

The two main options you could choose from if you want your trim to look great again is to stain the trim or paint it. Both options will result in trim that looks new and fresh, and both methods will require some of the same steps. While you could attempt to do this job yourself, the results are likely to be a lot better if you hire a professional to do the job.

If you want the trim to look like wood, staining it would be the better option, and you would have to choose a stain color. If you prefer the wood trim to be white or a different color, you should have it painted.

The Steps That Must Be Followed

Once you determine which option you prefer, a painting company can handle the rest of the work. Here are the main steps they will use to complete the job.

1. Clean the trim – Starting with clean trim is important, simply because it is easier to work with and the products will stick to it better. Trim can easily get full of dust and dirt, so every piece must be wiped down well before beginning the job.
2. Sand the trim – The next important step in the process is sanding the trim. It is slightly harder to sand trim that is already on a wall, but it is not impossible. Sanding the trim is necessary to make sure it is smooth and so that it accepts the paint or stain that is applied to it. After this step is complete, the trim will need to be cleaned once again.
3. Fill in holes – After the trim is sanded, the painters will look for imperfections on it. This can include holes in the trim, scrapes in it, or any other types of imperfections. The painters will fill these holes and gaps with wood putty, and this will help the trim look nicer after it is stained or painted.
4. Sand and clean it again – Once the putty is dry, all areas that contain putty must be sanded one more time and the dust must be wiped away. Once this occurs, your trim will be ready to be painted or stained.
5. Protect walls and floors – Before the staining or painting can take place, the painting company will need to apply tape or drop cloths to the floors and walls to avoid getting stain or paint on them.
6. Stain or paint the trim – If you chose to have your trim stained, they will begin by applying a coat of stain to the pieces of trim. They may have to repeat this step to achieve the right color and consistency. After that dries, they will apply a coat of polyurethane (or another type of finishing product). If you are having your trim painted, they will need to paint one or two coats of paint on the trim pieces. They may finish up by using a clear gloss protectant paint over the paint layers. This is designed to protect the finish of the trim. The painter may also apply a line of caulk on the top of the trim to finish it off.

Painting or staining wall trim is more affordable than replacing all of it, but it is a big job. If you would like to learn more about this, contact a painting or wood refinishing services company.