Paint trim before and touch up after or only after installation

[JimD]

I am slowly retrimming out house.  I have 18 windows and a few doorways done so far and about that number of windows and more doorways to do.  Until this week, I had been putting a coat of semi-gloss white over the primer of all the trim before installation.  Then I fill the holes and touch up the finish.  But I got the wrong crown (done a little of that too where we changing things) and put up the right sized piece before putting finish on it.  Perhaps because the primer and finish coat are both white, it looks OK with just a coat on top after installation.

So that has me wondering, should I just put the trim up and paint it after?

I know that is how it is done by the professionals but I figured that was because of scheduling of the guys doing the work.  Painter didn't want to come out twice.  But now I'm thinking it might just be a better practice.

Thoughts?

 

[Scott B.]

I do a lot of this.

If there is not a lot of joint sanding needed, prime and first coat prior to install. Then fill holes, carefully sand, caulk and final coat. This relies on a good installation.

If there is a lot of joint sanding, either install raw or with primer only, and then spot prime the joint sanding and proceed as above.

 

[tjbnwi]

I do a lot of this.

If there is not a lot of joint sanding needed, prime and first coat prior to install. Then fill holes, carefully sand, caulk and final coat. This relies on a good installation.

If there is a lot of joint sanding, either install raw or with primer only, and then spot prime the joint sanding and proceed as above.

What Scott said...

Tom

 

[Paul G]

Glad to see I do things similar to the resident paint gurus

 

[Scott B.]

We all have to do it the wrong way a couple of times before our lightbulb moment...

 

[jeh]

I do this as well, but I will spot prime any nail hole fills before putting the final topcoat on.

 

[Scott in San Diego]

I prime and paint first and second coats before installation.  Then just touch up the nails holes.  It is a lot easier for me to paint trim laid across some sawhorses rather than on your knees or a on a ladder.

 

[JimD]

For the casing I use, it is more challenging to paint vertical because it is so detailed.  That is one of the reasons I started putting a coat of finish on first (it comes primed).  But the crown is much less detailed and easier to paint in place. 

Based on your responses, I think I should continue to paint first, then install.  I don't sand after installation, I just caulk it to the ceiling and wall, caulk the corners, and usually caulk the nail holes.  Lightweight spackle works better on the nail holes but it's easier to just put a blob of caulk over them.  I use Duo-sil which shrinks less than normal latex caulk but it still shrinks some.  But I don't see the nail holes, even with a little shrinkage, unless I look abnormally close. 

When I have a run that is more than 16 feet, I join two pieces together before installation if it's crown, and put in 45 degree joint for an overlap if it's base.  The base normally will show after awhile.  The glued joint in the crown does better.  Maybe these overlaps joints are where others sand?  With crown, it is fairly simple to cut a piece of luan or other thin plywood narrower than the flat part of the back so it doesn't impact installation and staple it to the molding with glue in the joint.  Long pieces of crown are a lot easier to install on your own with the little plastic L shaped pieces on the wall.  I really like Ron Paulk's you tube pieces for crown installation.  Multiple good tips (including these plastic pieces).