I used to defend painting before trim install... now I do it after and it's way less fuss

I used to be part of the "paint the wall first, then install trim" crowd. Thought it made sense to get the wall done before the wood went up. But after doing a living room reno last year in my 1940s house, I had to cut trim around wonky old window frames and ended up with gaps everywhere. Spent a whole weekend caulking and touching up. Now I do trim first, fill the nail holes, caulk the gaps, then paint the whole thing flat white. Then mask the trim and roll the wall color over the edges. Maybe it's just me but I feel like it looks cleaner. Does anyone else do it this way or am I just making more work for myself?

3 comments

3 Comments

hernandez.gavin18d ago

1940s house huh, so you basically signed up for a geometry lesson every time you pick up a miter saw. I did a similar dance last summer in my 1920s bungalow and I swear the walls were built by a drunk guy with a level. Now I just do trim first, grab a beer, and accept that caulk is basically my new best friend. Honestly, anyone who paints first in an old house is just asking for a weekend of cussing and repainting.

the_rose18d ago

Wait hold on, you paint FIRST in an old house?! That's like putting on your makeup before you jump in the shower. I've been in my 1947 house for three years now and I made that mistake exactly ONCE. Spent a whole Sunday painting the living room ceiling, then went to hang crown molding and the miter saw kicked up dust that settled RIGHT into the wet paint. Looked like a snow globe exploded in there. Now I do trim first, accept every gap is going to be a quarter inch, and buy caulk by the case.

luna26118d ago

Wait, did you try spackle before caulk on those 1947 gaps?