the painted surface

How To Paint Baseboard

This article will be limited to specific tips about painting baseboard. It is a companion article to "How To Paint Woodwork" which covers the general tips and techniques for painting all woodwork and should definitely be read along with this one.

How to paint baseboard, seems like a simple task and yes, it is. It warrants its own page just to point out some tips and techniques to help make it a simpler task. The only difficult part of painting it is where it is. Being at floor level just makes it hard to find a good position to paint from. There is no way around it. Not only low to the floor, it is squeezed in between the wall and floor covering. The baseboard should be painted, not the carpet, wood flooring or tile! Here are some tips that will make the job simpler and the results neater.

• Use a good angle sash brush.
• If there is the opportunity during remodeling, new construction or the installation of new baseboard, prime and paint the baseboard before it is installed. This is much easier. The filling of nail holes, caulking and the finish coat can be applied when installation is complete. Buy pre-primed baseboard if available.
• This is a time when the paint should flow extra smoothly from the brush. If the paint has to be fought with to get it on the baseboard it will be frustrating and messy. To help the paint flow, add the appropriate thinner in small amounts until a good smooth flow is obtained. A thinner paint will be easier to control next to the wall and floor.
• When to paint the baseboard must be deciced as well. Sometimes it is painted when all the other woodwork is painted, that is before the walls. If painted before the walls it does not have to be so perfect next to them because the cutting-in of the walls will produce the fine line of transition. On the other hand, the baseboard can be painted very last. Then the fine line of transition will be produced by cuttng-in the baseboard.
• When the baseboard is being painted, pick up or pull away from the wall the drop cloths. They often get pushed back up on the wet paint. Use a small one as the painting proceeds instead.
• Vacum. Dust and trash is easily picked so a good vacuming will help.
• Have on hand some painter's putty to fill holes, knicks and gouges.
• On carpet use a wide putty or drywall knife to press down and hold the carpet out of the way. Wipe off the knife frequently.
• To keep hardwood or tile paint free use a small thin putty knife and an old rag (old unprinted t-shirt material works well). Wrap the knife tightly with the rag and run it down between the floor and baseboard to remove any paint that may have gotten on the floor. Do this as the baseboard is painted, before the paint dries.

These steps should make painting baseboard a simpler task. More details about specific painting subjects are covered in the additional articles. In those will be found details, tips and techniques gathered from over 20 years of painting experience. Here is a list of links to the articles: