How To Paint Trim Without Brush Marks?

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Do you want to paint trim without brush marks? So here’s we’ll discuss the method by which you’ll get lasting and professional results.

When you apply the paint on the trims and doors, it’ll give a fresh look. Here’s where we are painting the trims. So the questions come to our mind which paint is best to paint on the trims. So it’s the best option to use oil-based paint here. Oil-based paint will give that you are demanding for the trims.

As you want to paint efficiently, you must have all the materials needed. Otherwise, you’ll not get satisfactory results. Select all the high-quality things (paint and paintbrushes) for your paint to get paint trim without brush marks. Low-quality brushes will not give the desired results.

Supplies Needed:

  • Sandpaper
  • Wood putty
  • Cloth
  • Water bucket
  • Primer
  • Paintable Caulk
  • Water bucket
  • Paint Brush
  • Oil-based paint

Preparations Before Painting

You are trying to paint trim without brush marks. It would be best if you had heavy preparations before starting painting. For the smooth paint of the trim, we need to have some proper preparation. If your rough surfaces or high spot will not properly paint, it’ll become the cause of brush marks. Let’s proceed.

  • First of all, pick up the wood putty and start repairing cracks or any dents on your trim.
  • You can use a putty knife or razor blade to clean the residue on the corner of your window sills.
  • The more visible areas, so start dusting and vacuuming. Your top ledge is also the most facing part. So, also clean and wipe it.
  • Suppose you have high spots, so it is necessary to sand those spots with 320 grit sandpaper. Keep sanding until you notice that your surface is free from high marks.
  • For better results, again, do vacuum. And at last, use cloth and water to wash your trim thoroughly.

Apply Primer

You’ve prepared the trim, but you still don’t apply because you have not used primer yet. Sometimes it is not crucial to apply primer, but if you’re painting on the raw wood, it’s a must to apply primer. Primer is the best adhesion for paint. Not only will it help in adhering to the paint quickly, but it also gives you longevity to your paint.

Let’s have another case where the paint you want to trim is already painted. Here it’s not necessary to use a primer. But you need a primer when you have a dark color on your trim and you want light color. It helps you reduce no. of coats; otherwise, you’ll have to apply several coats of paint.

Use of Caulk

After performing two preparation steps, let’s look at 3rd preparation of painting trim without brush marks, which is caulking. Caulking helps to fill the gaps you have around your trims. You Can check the apparent difference in how your filling trim will give you a finished look at the end. It is an excellent choice if you apply primer and then apply the caulk. There is another option that you can do caulking after completing the paint. It’s also allowable but not too good. If you use caulk after painting, you have to face two colors: caulk and paint.

Tips For How To Paint Trim Without Brush Marks

Wao, you have done all the preparations. Now it’s time to paint the trim without brush strokes. Here I’m sharing some tricks. Let’s move.

  • Try to slap your brush on the side of your paint container rather than rinse off the tip.
  • If you paint the trim, go along the grain to get a finishing look. If you have wood, then paint with it grain, don’t go to the other side.

Steps To Paint Trim Without Brush Marks

Let’s move towards the method after doing preparation and priming.

Step 1 : Dipping of brush

Pick up your brush and start dipping it in paint about ⅓ of the paint. If you’ll drop more than this, then your brush carries more paint, and it’ll be overloaded.

Step 2 : Painting with an angle

Make the excess paint slape off and then cut in on top/bottom and edges of the trim. After this, start painting in the middle. Throughout your painting, pick you to brush gently and at an angle and start swiping on the surface. Keep this motion through, and don’t be straight on.

Step 3 : Don’t apply pressure

Smoothly paint your trim. Keep away from applying pressure. Applying pressure will give you an ugly look. Gently use the brush to provide you with a smooth surface and a more finished look.

Step 4 : Don’t over-brush

Be aware of over-brush. Some people are in the habit that after applying paint stroke, they rub it back and forth many times; don’t do this because this will cause your strokes to be visible.

Step 5 : Focus on the start/stop points

Along those identical lines, make sure that you focus on the start/stop points to proceed well. After completing 2-3 foot segments, progress 2-3 feet to trimming and replicate. Consider backward towards your painted trim.

Remember that you must not start the brush stroke on already applied paint because it displays a starting point.

Step 6 : Feather Out your brush strokes

 After covering the distance from previous paint to fresh paint, using extended motion upward ends your brush when you come at the midpoint.

Step 7 : Repeat the process

Again do this procedure of your working trim along with the first coat. One thing to remember here again is not to overload the brush.

Step 8 : Sand the surface

When you notice that your first coat has dried completely, start sanding with 320 or 360 grit sandpaper. Don’t skip the sanding when you are applying another coat. Sanding helps to make your paint smooth and smother. Without sanding, it’s not possible.

Step 9 : Use of primer

Use this process when you have finished the coat. Only two coats are enough to paint on the trim. You can see a finished look by only painting two coats. Sometimes you have to apply three coats when you don’t apply primer or use light color over a dark color.

Step 10 : Painted trim without brush marks

After applying all the steps, your painted trim without brush marks is ready. 

This article has learned how to paint trim without brush marks. These are simple steps but only need your proper attention and high-quality brushes. So, go and paint the trims.

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