what makes more sense?

Question

Im remodeling a house shortly (removing wallpaper,painting walls, finishing trim and removing carpet and finishing hardwood floors). my question is if I cant remove the trim safely without damaging it should I do the walls first or the trim first and why?

Answer 1

Do the walls first, then it wont matter about drips on your trim or even brushing over it.

Also do the largest areas first.
And the more delicate areas later.

Answer 2

Trim is always difficult to remove without damaging it. Use a stiff putty knife or scraper. Gently tap it in, behind the trim and slowly work it back and forth to loosen it. Once you get some room to work switch to a flat crow bar. After you get the trim pieces off, pull the nails through from the back side. This will minimize the damage done removing the nails.

I prefer to paint the ceilings first, then the walls. I've done quite a bit of painting, and don't even bother taping trim I'm going to paint anymore. By painting the walls first, I can use a roller right up to the trim and then cover any goofs when I paint the trim. It saves me time.

Answer 3

Do the trim first. After it's dry you can start the walls, go as far down towards the trim as possible without touching it. There's a small tool you can buy at any local harware store that's a little square with wheels on one side. You apply paint to the other side and run the wheels along the trim, that way you get a very neat clean line. Or you can just buy the blue paint tape and tape off where you don't want the paint to go...

Answer 4

Walls then trim. My concern is replacing the carpet and re doing the hardwood floors you may end up having to remove the trim anyway.

Answer 5

Trim first, because then you only have to touch up the trim, and not a large area of wall. It's not really that important it's more important to prime and prepare well. Read those paint tips from This Old House. They really helped when I repainted my house.

Answer 6

I would certainly get the larger areas done first.

I would still tape the bottom trim so you can paint to the tape easily, this is important to ensure a constant colour on the trim.

there are many ways of protecting areas where paint colours meet, but I prefer taping and fine finishing with a small (art type) paint brush.

learn how to apply paint correctly as this will also have a big effect on the finished job.

have a ball

Answer 7

Whether new or remodel, professionals paint the baseboards last.