How-To paint skirting board, architrave and door liners

Jimmy_Boy

Looking for a little advice regarding painting skirting board, architrave and door liners.

The skirting board and architrave is all newly fitted primed MDF, the door liners are the originals that have all been sanded and filled with wood filler and then re-sanded.

Im just not sure of the processes... ie do I need to use a primer first, what kind of paint do I use (satin?) and how can I achieve a good finish, I really dont want brush marks left on the wood from painting with a brush.

Someone was meant to be spraying it for me but im constantly being let down, hence im thinking about doing it myself.

Any advice welcomed.

Thanks in advance.

rob7475

For paint, I can recommend Crown fastflow satin. they also do a fastflow primer which will be good for the skirtings if not already primed (most come pre-primed). For the old architrave, you may get away with sanding and two coats of your satin. I'd try a test area first though. If you find the paint doesn't adhere too well, something like Zinsser bullseye will be your best bet as a primer as it sticks to anything.

For application, I like Prodec Ice fusion brushes and mini rollers. I like to paint skirtings before fitting and a mini roller gives a good finish. It may be a bit of a struggle when they're already fitted though. The Ice fusion brushes are very good though and if you dampen them ever so slightly with a fine mist of water before starting, it'll help with the final finish. 

Have a go on a couple of bits of skirting and you'll soon get the hang of it. If you leave a few brush marks, don't worry - nobody will see it on the skirting.

Jeepers_Creepers

Hi Jimmy.

Good advice from Rob.

I've recently done this exact job with pre-primed MDF skirtings and archi too.

Any filled and bare areas on your 'old' archi must be primed. I have to say, I used cheap MDF primer from Screwfix, and this worked perfectly well. Don't skimp on this, as it'll make the application of the top coat that much easier.

First, tho', I found that certain areas - the inside curved parts of the Ogee profile - had the typical MDF issue of being 'furry'. This was easily dealt with using 120 grit over my fingers, but if you don't get rid of such things, it will spoil the overall finish.

After priming, de-nib the surfaces again, with the quickest and lightest going-over with 120 or 180 grit - really worth it. Wipe down with a damp cloth.

If you can, slip something - strips of polythene or whatevs - under the skirting boards so as to isolate them from the floor - that will really help when you apply the paint, not having to worry about 'cutting-in' to the floor - a 'mare. (Once you've painted a section, move -    gently partially pull out, or along - the strips so's they don't bond to the drying paint!)

I'd go for Rob's choice of paint and brush as he seems to know what he's talking about, but I just used Dulux Quick-dry Satinwood as I'd used it before to good effect.

BUT, wow..., that stuff doesn't 'alf love to 'curtain'... On the flat vertical surface of the skirting, it was almost impossible to keep it from running. I ended up having to apply it in very thin coats, well brushed out, finishing off with a light touch - and then keeping a constant eye on it in case it 'ran' again before it dried. Once I got into that system of working, the finish turned out very acceptably.

(Wife made sarky comment about how long it was taking me to paint a 'bit' of skirting, so I just handed her t'brush and went off to crack open a can of beer. 5 minutes later, I came back to rescue the situation from a panicked wife. The runs...well....)

It took three top coats - all 'thin' - but the finish is really nice. I hope, tho', that Rob's suggestion is better from the 'application' pov.

Jimmy_Boy

The skirting board is all fitted.

Based on the advice of the guy who was going to do it (but like I say, its always next week which never comes) he advised to leave the final coat of paint on the walls until the skirting is done. The walls have had a mist coast and another coat, but needs another coat or two to get a nice finish.

This seems a little backwards to me, I would think you want the walls completely painted before doing the skirting board, essentially making the skirting the last work to be done. What advice could you give here? follow as he says to paint skirting then do walls, or to do walls then skirting ?

Thanks in advance.

NSG666

Jimmy_Boy said:

The skirting board is all fitted.

Based on the advice of the guy who was going to do it (but like I say, its always next week which never comes) he advised to leave the final coat of paint on the walls until the skirting is done. The walls have had a mist coast and another coat, but needs another coat or two to get a nice finish.

This seems a little backwards to me, I would think you want the walls completely painted before doing the skirting board, essentially making the skirting the last work to be done. What advice could you give here? follow as he says to paint skirting then do walls, or to do walls then skirting ?

Thanks in advance.

If he was going to spray it then he'd need to mask it and the masking tape might have marked the wall. If you are brushing or rollering then the pro's paint the wall first then the wood. If you are doing it yourself do it how you like.

Jimmy_Boy

Well if I do it myself I think I will go along the lines of painting the walls first to a good finish then do the woodwork... lets just hope it doesnt like a 5 year olds first art attempt

hardquest

From my own experience when painting skirting boards etc, i always use a roller and decent paint brush (purdy, expensive, but amazing) and paint over the skirting boards and then when its dry use frog tape and masking tape over them to make a straight line. Well this only if you'll be painting your walls as well if not keep that in mind for another time.! Your lines will be straight and beautiful.