Molding - before or after paint?
#1
05-02-06, 11:01 AM
Molding - before or after paint?
The drywallers are just finishing installing drywall in our house. We're getting to the point where we'll need to install casing and painting.
In some parts of the house, it makes sense to install casing and molding first, which I think is standard procedure.
However there are other parts where I'm wondering if this is a good idea. We plan to have kitchen cabinets installed after the floor is installed (and the floor goes in *after* the painting). The base molding for the kitchen will need to go right up to the kitchen cabinets, so there's no way we can install it prior to the cabinets.
Can anyone advise *against* doing this? Should I just go ahead and install all the base molding after painting the walls?
Thanks,
Antun
In some parts of the house, it makes sense to install casing and molding first, which I think is standard procedure.
However there are other parts where I'm wondering if this is a good idea. We plan to have kitchen cabinets installed after the floor is installed (and the floor goes in *after* the painting). The base molding for the kitchen will need to go right up to the kitchen cabinets, so there's no way we can install it prior to the cabinets.
Can anyone advise *against* doing this? Should I just go ahead and install all the base molding after painting the walls?
Thanks,
Antun
#2
05-02-06, 11:27 AM
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Great Barrington MA
Posts: 496
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
people have different ways that work for them but this is how I do it. I install all moulding first always. I always caulk all joints where wood meets drywall. I then paint all walls and cut up to the trim covering the caulk and not worrying about being to careful at that point if a little slops on the trim it's ok as long as there are no drips. Then lastly I carefully paint the trim with the semigloss covering any slop from the flat and making a nice flat to semi transition right on the caulk joint. Since you are doing the floor last (as you should) you will have to hold off on the base until last.
#3
05-02-06, 11:37 AM
That's what I figured.
I'll install the base last, then caulk (which might mess up the walls a little bit) and then re-touch up the walls again. Do you think I'll have any problems with the touch-up paint sticking out over the rolled-on paint?
-Antun
I'll install the base last, then caulk (which might mess up the walls a little bit) and then re-touch up the walls again. Do you think I'll have any problems with the touch-up paint sticking out over the rolled-on paint?
-Antun
Originally Posted by BuiLDPro68
Since you are doing the floor last (as you should) you will have to hold off on the base until last.
#4
05-02-06, 12:40 PM
Member
I'm not sure what you are asking antun
Advise against doing what? Putting in the base molding after the cabinets?
It sounds like you don't have a choice
By "install casing and molding first" do you mean before painting it?
Are you acting as your own General Contractor?
If you are acting as GC, I can tell you the SOP would be to have the painters come in after everyone else is gone
Everyone, cabinets, trim guys/gals, etc...(an exception would be to send someone in to primer behind where cabs and showers etc. would go)
The logic is that they can't paint what's not there yet
If the paint can for the trim is open, and the brush has trim paint on it, it only makes sense to paint all the trim
That's the efficient logical way to do it, rather than open it up again later for a 20 minute job, or the other half of the job
If the painters were hired, it would surely be an extra charge for that....if it was possible to get them back for a 20 minute job
there for sure would be an extra charge to switch back and forth
If you are acting as GC I can tell you you have a little leeway with the SOP
As far as painting goes, if at all possible, I like to paint the walls w/o any trim on them
That would be my ideal job
And primer and one color coat the trim before it gets put up
Top coat the trim after installation, and touch up the walls if need be
That rarely happens in that order, but it would be the ideal way from a painter's perspective
As the floor molding in question, if done the ideal way it would get a primer and color coat when all the rest of the trim did
then be top-coated after install along with the rest
If done the SOP way it would be up already, and not be an issue
The casings, I still like to do the ideal way, with the final coat after install
Usually this is either possible or not, not really a 50/50 deal, so I'm not sure what you mean
But again, with SOP or ideal, it's all done at the same time, and not really an issue
50/50 installed/not installed....still makes sense to do it all at the same time
Advise against doing what? Putting in the base molding after the cabinets?
It sounds like you don't have a choice
By "install casing and molding first" do you mean before painting it?
Are you acting as your own General Contractor?
If you are acting as GC, I can tell you the SOP would be to have the painters come in after everyone else is gone
Everyone, cabinets, trim guys/gals, etc...(an exception would be to send someone in to primer behind where cabs and showers etc. would go)
The logic is that they can't paint what's not there yet
If the paint can for the trim is open, and the brush has trim paint on it, it only makes sense to paint all the trim
That's the efficient logical way to do it, rather than open it up again later for a 20 minute job, or the other half of the job
If the painters were hired, it would surely be an extra charge for that....if it was possible to get them back for a 20 minute job
there for sure would be an extra charge to switch back and forth
If you are acting as GC I can tell you you have a little leeway with the SOP
As far as painting goes, if at all possible, I like to paint the walls w/o any trim on them
That would be my ideal job
And primer and one color coat the trim before it gets put up
Top coat the trim after installation, and touch up the walls if need be
That rarely happens in that order, but it would be the ideal way from a painter's perspective
As the floor molding in question, if done the ideal way it would get a primer and color coat when all the rest of the trim did
then be top-coated after install along with the rest
If done the SOP way it would be up already, and not be an issue
The casings, I still like to do the ideal way, with the final coat after install
Usually this is either possible or not, not really a 50/50 deal, so I'm not sure what you mean
But again, with SOP or ideal, it's all done at the same time, and not really an issue
50/50 installed/not installed....still makes sense to do it all at the same time
#5
05-02-06, 12:44 PM
This is the way I have always painted new construction.
#1 prime all drywall
#2 have woodwork installed - might prime woodwork first
#3 caulk and putty trim - prime if not previously done
#4 sand and enamel all woodwork except base
#5 paint walls
#6 enamel base
The later you can postpone the finish wall paint the less touch up you will need to do. Quality paint will usually touch up better than the cheaper paints. While it is nice to be able to have the house free of other trades during painting it is seldom feasable, so you should be flexable to paint areas either early or later.
#1 prime all drywall
#2 have woodwork installed - might prime woodwork first
#3 caulk and putty trim - prime if not previously done
#4 sand and enamel all woodwork except base
#5 paint walls
#6 enamel base
The later you can postpone the finish wall paint the less touch up you will need to do. Quality paint will usually touch up better than the cheaper paints. While it is nice to be able to have the house free of other trades during painting it is seldom feasable, so you should be flexable to paint areas either early or later.
