Wood

Trim, Doors/Painted/To Be Painted

a. Surface Preparation:

*NOTE: If lead is suspected in the paint, do not attempt to remove paint or scrape, sand, use heat gun, etc., which might put lead into the environment, but rather contact a contractor qualified for lead paint assessment and abatement

• treat any mildew with a 3:1 water:household bleach mixture, leaving it on for 20 minutes and adding more as it dries; wear eye and skin protection; rinse thoroughly
• dull any glossy areas by sanding with fine grit (#220) garnet paper; wear eye protection and dust mask
• remove all dirt by scrubbing with detergent and warm water, rinse thoroughly; pay special attention to kitchen areas (accumulated airborne cooking oils) and around switches and door knobs (hand prints and oils)
• remove cracking, loose or poorly adhering paint by careful scraping; wear eye protection, cloth work gloves, and a dust mask
• feather sand edges of remaining paint by sanding with fine grit (#220) garnet paper; wear eye protection and dust mask
• clean off all remaining dust, paint particles, etc.

b. Priming:

• apply latex or oil-based wood stain-blocking primer to any areas where bare wood has been exposed
• for maximum adhesion, stain blocking and uniformity of sheen, prime the entire area to be paintedc.

c. Painting:

• use top-of-the-line interior latex or oil-based paint in flat, satin, semi-gloss or gloss finish, depending on appearance desired
• oil-based will provide greater hardness, but may yellow, and will be prone to crack with time
• satin, semigloss and gloss paints will resist dirt and handprints better than flat finish