How to Paint Trim without Brush Strokes: In 5 Ways Easily

A perfect coat of paint can brighten up your room. When you paint your room, you want the new paint on your walls may look smooth and flawless. An essential part of the perfect color is painting the trim.

Painting the trim is more likely to not as easy as you think. It’s quite hard to paint the trim without brush strokes. We know that it feels terrible to spend your hard-earned money on painting to see the brush strokes. Most probably, these mistakes happen for insufficient preparation, defective equipment, and careful application.

When you paint the trim, you don’t see any brush strokes when experienced painters do this. But there is no magic needed while doing this. It’s all about following some tips to prevent making mistakes. Your knowledge, some techniques, and a little experience can attain professional-looking and streak-free results for painting the trim. In my article, you will get to know how to paint trim without brush strokes.

Now you are wondering how to paint a smooth trim without leaving brush strokes? Let’s get to know some special tips and techniques to trim paint like an expert without further ado.

Are You Ready to Paint?

At the very first, all you need is to make the preparation. It would be best if you had to check that you have all the necessary equipment with you. You also need to have the protective material and set up the equipment with you.

What Equipment Do you Need?

a) Painting Tools

1. Painters’ tape
2. Filling knives and filter
3. Interior primer
4. Mixing board
5. Masking tape
6. Paint tray and stick
7. Bucket

b) Paint

1. Enamel paint
2. Paint conditioner

c) Cleaning Tools

1. Dust mask
2. Treated dust cloth
3. Vacuum cleaner
4. Damp sponge
5. Sandpaper
6. Stepladder
7. Cleanser
8. Spackle

d) Brushes

1. Toothbrush
2. Paintbrush
3. Trim brush

If you have all the equipment with you, then you are ready to paint.

Best Paint Brush for Trim And Baseboards:

There are so many paintbrushes out there. They can use for your cutting in, trim work, and on baseboards. It would be best if you wanted the best quality paintbrushes. Quality paint brushes are easier to clean your surface, and it lasts a lot longer than cheap brushes. They help you to paint the trim and baseboards without brush strokes. By investing in the right tools, you’re guaranteed to get a better result.

Sometimes the various types of brushes can be challenging to find a perfect paintbrush for trim. In this article, I will help you to find the best paintbrushes for trim and baseboards.

a) Purdy Clear-cut Series:

The brush is excellent for painting trim for you. The angular size paintbrushes are perfect for finishing the trim detail. The highest performance makes it much more comfortable. If you are a homeowner and want the ideal paintbrush, the Purdy clear-cut series brush will help you the most.

b) Purdy XL:

The Purdy XL Brush series is beneficial for all paint and stains. These brushes are easy to use. And they also can carry the right amount of color so that you can do your job faster. They can spread the paint in a straight and precisely without any brush strokes. You can also use them to cut corners and flat horizontal surfaces of your room. The handle comes in different styles, which are designed for painting in tight areas. They are also suitable for smooth edges.

c) Richard Tools Series A:

The Richard Tools Series is a round-shaped paintbrush. This brush is designed for cutting-in jobs and also for smooth finishing. The A series of the paintbrush is exceptionally versatile. It can paint the edge walls and doors, windows and trim, baseboards, and many more. It also can paint a clean line.

d) Corona Excalibur Chinex:

The Brush is made in the USA. The brush is of excellent quality for it’s a 2″ angled brush. Corona Excalibur Chinex is perfect for trim work. It helps you paint the doors and windows to get into corners quite easily and quickly. This brush has a standard cardboard paper cover.

e) Jen Sponge Brush:

The Jen Sponge Brush is a high-quality foam paintbrush. The Jen Sponge brush was made in the USA. The paintbrush costs less because they can get it with a pack of 48 pieces. I recommend them to you for the best foam paintbrush for your trim.

f) Hiltex 00308:

Hiltex 00308 trim brush include 1″, 1-1/2″, 2″ and 3″ types. Every brush is made with bristles with has feathered ends. This brush can you the paint holding capacity from your easy painting. It will be beneficial for you when you are doing the trim work. So, this is a great option for you if you are looking for a paintbrush to do the simple trim painting for your trim and baseboards.

Painting Trim with Roller VS Brush

The paintbrush and paint roller are two variant functions. Selecting the right tool for painting trim is significant. Here are some tips for you to know what paint tool you can use for painting trim.

A roller is ideal for great ideas like walls, ceilings, and also large furniture. The roller can hold more paint than the regular brush. The roller also distributes a successive layer of paint much faster.

On the other hand, paintbrushes can be used for smaller and more detailed areas like the trims, corners, etc. The brushes are small and flexible, and they can work well for controlling the paint. It is also used to gives you a textured effect.

So, we can see that rollers are not perfect for painting trim. Without any doubt, we can choose a brush for painting trim. Read Also: 6 Best Finish for Kitchen Table 2020 to Get Shiny Furniture

How To Paint Trim Without Brush Strokes – Step By Step Method:

(1) Always remember you start the paint early in the morning that your room has a considerable time to get air before you close up for the night.

(2) Any dust left on the trim may get into your paintbrush. So clean the dust and vacuum your room carefully.

(3) The dust needs to pay attention to, especially to the tops of windows and also door casings. You can use a stepladder if necessary.

(4) It would be best if you placed the tarp in your working area. Then fill a paint bucket with some water and a little bit of cleanser. You can use a toothbrush to clean any dirt.

(5) Then, make sure to tuck the masking tape around the edge of the flooring.

(6) Use the damp sponge or cloth to clean dirt and remove all traces from the border.

(7) Then brush down the surface and carefully fill any cracks or holes with a lightweight spackling compound.

(8) Lightly sand the trim back with fine sandpaper until all shine disappears from the edge, use120 grit sandpaper.

(9) You must need to add a paint conditioner to your enamel paint. Then you can mix a little amount of amended for a better result.

(10) As soon as possible, you have to unload the paint onto the trim surface.

(11) You need to smooth the series of short brush strokes with one broad brushstroke. Please make sure you don’t add more color to the brush.

At last, before the paint dries out, you need to pull the tape off from the wall carefully.

[Read Also: Staining Wood Dark: 7 Tips to Get Darker & Richer Finish]

(1) How to Eliminate Brush Strokes When Painting Cabinets

You want to have a professional look at your cabinets. But you don’t want to have any brush strokes after painting the cabinets. Brushstrokes can leave the cabinets looking so messy. To get rid of the brush strokes, you need to try some different methods. It can be time-consuming, so you need to plan it very carefully and make all the preparation.

So, let’s know some tricks about how to eliminate brush strokes when painting cabinets:

(1.1) At first, clean the cabinets with a dishwasher with the grease cutter and a clean rag.

(1.2) Make some warm soapy water to remove grease, dirt, and debris. Allow drying.

(1.3) Then you have to remove the doors and drawers from the cabinet. It would be best if you needed to sand the cabinets using 120 grit sandpapers. Make sure you rub both sides of the doors.

(1.4) Then spray the doors and drawer fronts with any wood primer. It is a great idea to work outside of your home while streaming them.

(1.5) Pour some wood primer in a paint pan and then squeeze out the roller. Then apply primer to the cabinet boxes.

(1.6) Remember that you have to replace the doors and drawers after the second coat of paint is completely dry.

[Read Also: How to Finish Plywood Walls & Painting -In 4 Ways to Smooth Finish]

(2) How to Prevent Brush Strokes with Oil-Based Paint

Oil-Based Paints are a popular choice to paint your trim. When you use them, it’s challenging to achieve a smooth surface without any brush strokes.

Unfortunately, water-based paints don’t take time to dry up, and that’s why they leave the brush strokes quickly. But Oil-based paints are great for creating a smooth finish. It can easily remove visible brushstrokes of your trim. The color takes a long time to dry. You should use a natural bristle brush while applying the oil-based paint. You need to know the proper brushing technique for not leaving any brush strokes in your trim.

(2.1) Make sure to apply multiple coats

(2.2) Dip your paintbrush into paint. Then tap off the excess paint

(2.3) Using a separate paint container is very important

(2.4) Quickly coat the surface with a loaded paintbrush

(2.5) Be sure to always back-brush from a dry area into a wet room.

(3) Prevent Brush Strokes with Spray Paint

The best way to prevent brush strokes is to use high-quality paint sprays. You will love to use them if you have the proper skill to paint with spray paint. If you are not an expert, it can result in spatters, streaks, thick and thin areas. No matter how careful you will be, there is a massive chance to overspray. So it’s quite challenging for everyone to use spray paint properly. So I will not recommend you to use spray paint if you are not an expert.

(4) How to Remove Brush Marks From Paint

Brush marks can ruin your wall paint. It doesn’t look perfect on your surface. A color with visible brush marks looks worst. If you want to look at your painted surfaces, look professional and smooth, follow some methods to remove brush marks from paint.

(4.1)  Check the wall or door surface carefully before you repaint. If you see any brush marks on the body, use an orbital sander on medium speed with 120-grit aluminum oxide sandpaper and Sand over the whole surface once and then vacuum it.

(4.2) Sand over the wall or door repeatedly until you can’t see any brush marks on the surface. Then vacuum the last of the sander dust, then apply primer and paint.

(4.3.) Brush marks can be visible on a painted wall. It can happen when applied the paint with poor-quality paint.

(4.4) Please allow the paint to dry for7 to 30 days. It will ensure that the painted surface has a hard finish.

(4.5) Put some sheet of 120 grit sandpaper on your handheld orbital sander and make a few strokes with it. If the colored dust comes off the painted surface, the paint will become dry and hard enough to Sand. Change the sandpaper frequently as you sand, for the cleanest sanding and smoothest finish.

(5) Some Special Tips for Preventing Brush Marks:

•  You can shine a Light across the Woodwork and Circle Flaws to detect the flaws quickly.
•  Always sand the surface until you make sure it smooth and remove any previously applied paint.
•  Use a paint conditioner.
•  Remember that Buy expensive brushes ever.
•  Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions on all the products and equipment.
• The easiest way to paint the trim is to paint with matte or chalky paint.
• For the ideal result, use spray paint.
• Roll the Paint along the Edges for Consistent Texture
• Avoid Brushing Across an Edge
• At first, paint in the details and then smooth over.
•  Don’t Start a Brushstroke on Already-Smoothed Paint
• Add an Extender to Latex Paint
• Cut in Edges Before You Fill the Center
•  Always paint in one direction

Conclusion:

Painting trim is the most common painting task that homeowners undertake, with walls and cabinets. Painting your trim can change the look of your room. It can brighten up the room and make it more elegant and beautiful.

Painting the trim without brush strokes can be a little challenging for you. But now, not to worry at all. I have made the task easier with all the information for your perfect painting surface. Hopefully, you have known all the techniques about how to paint trim without brush strokes. Now follow them for your flawless painting surface.

If you have any further query, please let us know it in the comment section below. Happy Painting.

Last Updated on July 4, 2021 by Rogers Weber

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