A smooth, glossy finish on the skirting boards and architraves can make a real difference to the look of a room.
Getting larger each time this size of paint brush is often used for skirting boards, door frames, kitchen cupboards, bathroom tiles and small door panels. The larger size means a quicker job applying paint to larger surfaces. You can always finish off the edges by cutting in with a smaller brush. 4″ or 100mm Size. Using this product for painting your skirting boards can be a real joy as it applies evenly without any visible sign of brush strokes. It goes on smoothly, without any runs or marks. Although painting with this satinwood paint can provide a seamless finish, it should be noted it is not a water-based paint. If the paint on your skirting board comes towards a natural end (paint chips and slight discolouration), then it’s advised that you start the process of repainting your skirting again. The paint used on your skirting will be durable and long-lasting, you shouldn’t need to repaint for at least 5-10 years. Skirting Boards Painting. Painting of the skirting boards and the door frames should be done with precision and style. In modern times, the paint often adds a decorative sense to the door frames and skirting boards. In the recent past, people have been using oil-based paints on the skirting boards.
Painting with gloss is one of the more challenging aspects of painting and decorating, but that is no reason not to give it a go yourself. With patience and care, it is relatively straightforward to get a finish you can be proud of and get your room gleaming.
This step by step will guide you through the whole process, from picking your paint and brush through to the final finish.
Pick a paint and brush
Contents
The first job is to choose the paint you want, and then this will dictate what type of brush you require. For a gloss finish, you have a choice of either oil-based or water-based paint.
Water-based paints are easier to use, can be cleaned with water, and are better for the environment, but do not usually have such a glossy finish. Whichever you choose, you need to make sure the undercoat or primer (use primer on new wood, and undercoat on previously painted timber) has the same base as the gloss, as the two do not combine well and can lead to problems further down the road.
With the paint chosen, you will then need a brush. It will usually say on a brush which type of paint it is for, but as a general rule, you need natural fibers to work with oil based paint and synthetic fibers for water based.
The brush you choose will make a significant impact on the quality of the finish, so if you are going to splash out anywhere, spend the money on a good quality brush.
Preparing the timber
With your paint and brush ready you can begin preparing the wood for the first coat. If you are working with new timber, it is best to do as much preparation as you can before fixing it to the wall, so that the most you will have to do is quickly fill and sand off any nail holes you make.
If your skirting and architraves are already attached, it can be a bit fiddly to do all of the preparation, but it is worth the extra time to get it right.
- The first job is to sand down the timber with coarse sand paper (around P80 grit) to give yourself a smooth surface and to find anywhere that might need some filler.
- Once sanded, fill any cracks and holes that stand out, before sanding off the wood again with fine sandpaper (around P240 grit).
- At this point, the trims need to be attached if they are not already, and the edges caulked to ensure all the joints are full and prevent ugly cracks appearing over time.
- Finally, you need to fill and sand any holes made by attaching the timber to the wall.
Clean up and mask off
You are almost ready to go.
- Before you start painting, remove any dust from the timber and around the flooring as this will show through in the final finish if it ends up mixed in with the paint.
- Sweep everywhere carefully with a soft brush to get the majority of the dirt off; wait an hour or two for any disturbed dust to settle before wiping off the remainder with a dry cloth.
- Then, mask the edges with masking tape to make sure you get a clean, straight line where the timber joins the wall.
Undercoat/Primer first
Time to crack on with the paintwork! You will need to move around carefully so as not to disturb too much dust, and make sure all the windows and doors are closed, so a sudden breeze doesn’t destroy your good work.
- Then, starting from an end if you can, or a corner if not, carefully work your way around the room.
- The best technique to get a good finish and avoid runs is to use a small amount of paint on your brush and start each section slightly ahead of where your last painting ended.
- This technique allows you to spread the paint out to an even coat while the already-painted area is still wet.
- Finally, always make sure nothing touches the paint after a couple of minutes on the timber, as it will quickly begin to go tacky, which can result in visible brush marks, and sometimes, a rough finish where bits of paint peel away.
You will almost certainly need (at least) two coats of the preparatory paint, so after each is completely dry, remove the masking tape and carefully rub over everywhere with fine sandpaper to eliminate any brush marks or runs that may have gone unnoticed.
After each sanding, clean up again to make sure no dust gets on the timber or paintwork while you are working on it, and re-mask any areas that need it.
Finish with gloss
Hopefully, at this point, you have a nice, smooth, primed surface ready for the gloss finish.
- The first job is to sand the timber gently in preparation for the gloss, and again make sure the whole area is dust free and masked off.
- It is then an identical process to the first few coats, taking as much care as possible to provide an even spread all over the timber.
- As with all paints, you will probably require at least a couple of coats, so in between each one, you will need to do the usual sanding back and cleaning up.
Gloss paint can be a little harder to work with than the undercoat, as it is less viscous and more prone to runs. However, this runniness is what allows gloss paint to self-level to the smooth finish required.
As you are painting you will notice that you will always leave brush marks in the paint no matter how hard you try!
The trick is to be as careful as you can to minimize the marks and let the paint smooth itself out. If you are doing it right, you should be able to look a few meters behind where you are working to see a smooth, glossy surface on the area you have already painted.
Conclusion
For many, gloss painting is one of the toughest jobs they will undertake on their home.
It can be soul-destroying when it doesn’t work out right, but with perseverance and attention to detail, there is no reason why anybody shouldn’t get professional standard results.
The key is in the preparation of the timber, and in preventing dirt settling on the paint. If you can get these right, then the rest of the job should follow.
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Are you wondering how to paint skirting boards? Great! You’ll be pleased to know painting skirting boards isn’t a difficult job. However, it’s one of those jobs most people don’t enjoy. Especially because it involves lots of crouching and crawling around the floor.
Typically, there are two scenarios – painting new skirting boards or repainting your existing skirting boards.
If you’re painting new skirting boards, it’s better to do it before fixing them to the wall. You’ll need to make sure they’re prepared and primed before painting.
DIY tools needed for painting skirting boards
Here’s a list of the DIY tools you’ll need to do this job. Some of them are optional depending on your circumstances.
- Good quality 2″ paint brush
- Paint
- Primer (optional)
- Painter’s tape
- Low tack floor protector (optional)
- Newspaper or dust sheets to protect your floor
- Thin card
- Fine sandpaper
- Sugar soap and cloth
- Water, sponge, damp cloth
- Old clothes or overalls
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Preparing the room and skirting board
The first thing you want to do is move all the furniture away from the skirting board. If the room’s big enough, move it to the centre of the room. If it’s not, move the furniture out of the room. You need plenty of space to move around, so an empty room is the best option.
Lift up the carpet if you can. If you can’t lift up the carpet, try pulling it back so you have enough room to work. You must be careful here as pulled back carpet can easily slip and fall back into place, sending dust and bits of dirt all over your newly painted surfaces.
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Best Paint Brush For Skirting Boards
If you don’t want want to risk it, and I wouldn’t blame you, leave the carpet in place and read the next section on how to protect your carpet.
How to paint skirting boards with the carpet down
You really don’t want to get paint on your carpet. It’s not a good look. If you must paint skirting boards with the carpet down, use masking tape to protect it.
Masking tape comes in various widths. For protecting your carpet when painting skirting boards, you’ll need to use 2″ (at least) masking tape.
- Use a pair of scissors to cut your masking tape so you have a straight edge.
- Place the cut straight edge in one corner of the room with the cut straight edge up against the skirting board of one wall, and the roll next to the skirting board of another wall.
- Now run the masking tape along the carpet as tight as you can to the skirting board. When you reach the other corner, use a scraper to mark and cut the masking tape so you have a nice, straight edge.
- Check the masking tape is straight and protecting all of your carpet.
- Now repeat this process for the rest of the room.
You should also follow this method if you have tiled or wooden flooring.
How to paint skirting boards without getting paint on the walls
You have two options here. The first is to mask the wall using good quality painter’s tape (masking tape will do the job, but painter’s tape is better) or use a tool called a paint shield.
Paint shields are handy tools that let you place a surface between your brush and the wall while you paint the skirting board.
What’s the difference between masking tape and painter’s tape? The main difference between the two is what happens when you remove them from the surface you’re protecting. As you might expect, painter’s tape is aimed at professionals who want a top-notch finish to their work. As long as it’s removed within a certain timeframe, painter’s tape, unlike masking tape, shouldn’t leave any residue behind or damage the surface it’s protecting.
Sanding the skirting board
For this stage, wear a dust mask and use a sanding block.
Grab some medium to fine grade sandpaper and start sanding along the skirting board. Go with the grain, not against it. The goal is to remove the top layer of paint. You don’t want to remove the whole layer. You want to make the skirting board smooth to the touch and ‘scratched’ to the eye.
Depending upon the size of your room and the condition of your skirting, this job can take a while. You might need knee pads or a cushion to lean on. Watch out for bits or tools on the floor – kneeling on one of those can hurt!
Sand down the entire length of the skirting. When you’re finished, vacuum the room to get rid of the dust. Wash the skirting board with sugar soap. Doing this helps remove grease and grime and improves adhesion when applying the new paint.
Painting the skirting board
Now you’ve completed the prep work, it’s time to crack on with some painting.
If you’re repainting existing skirting board, you’ll need at least two coats of paint. If you’re painting new skirting, you’ll need to apply primer first, then two coats of paint in the colour of your choice.
Traditionally, we’ve used gloss paint for skirting boards. This gives a shiny, hard-wearing finish. If you’d like something more subtle, with a mid-sheen finish, try satinwood instead.
Use a good quality 2” brush for this job. Start by dipping your brush into the paint. Remove the excess by scraping one side of the brush against the edge of the paint tin. You want a good amount of paint on the brush but you don’t want too much. You want to avoid drips.
Taking your time, start painting the top of the skirting board moving from right to left if you’re right-handed, and left to right if you’re left-handed. When you finish painting the top of the skirting board, move back to your starting position and paint the bottom edge. When that’s done, go back and paint the middle section.
As you’re painting, keep an eye out for drips and use your brush to remove them.
Paint Brush For Skirting Boards At Home Depot
Apply the second coat of paint
Allow plenty of time for the paint to dry before applying the second coat. The time you need to allow should be written on the paint tin.
Before you start applying the second coat, sand down the skirting board. Look out for the slight lumps and bumps that occurred when you applied the first coat. It’s worth taking a few minutes to do this as it helps achieve a more professional and cleaner finish. Use a fine grade sandpaper and don’t apply too much pressure.
After sanding, remove the dust from the surface of the skirting board (use a vacuum cleaner for best results). Wipe the skirting down with a damp cloth, and let it dry before applying the next coat of paint.
Before you start painting again, make sure the painter’s tape and other methods of protection are still in place. Now, go through the painting process again for the second coat.
When you’re finished, allow the paint to dry before removing the masking tape, floor protection and tidying up. Always take your time removing painter’s/masking tape. You don’t want to pull off bits of paint, plaster or wallpaper and ruining the look you’ve worked so hard to achieve.
That’s it. I hope you’ve found this article useful and feel confident enough to paint your skirting boards.
How to Paint Skirting Boards – Video
Source: FineHomeBuilding.com