Q: We
need to repaint the interior of our home. At the same time, I would
like to have the trim work painted white. Also, I would like new
base molding. The carpet is being replaced and the hardwood floors
are being refinished. Any hints to keep costs down? How much more
expensive is it to paint woodwork compared with refinishing what
is there?
A: As far as the most efficient, economical process to tackle your
project, you will want to schedule all of your painting before recarpeting
and refinishing your hardwood floors. If the painters can have access
to your home without your being there, so much the better.
The least expensive treatment for your stained woodwork and doors
would be to live with the current color and simply touch up with
stain and varnish it. It is fine to leave some rooms stained and
paint others, as long as there are definite breaks. It is not even
uncommon to paint one side of a door (say facing into a hall with
painted baseboards) and leave the other side stained to match the
cabinets and baseboards inside a den, for example.
Refinishing woodwork, including trim, doors, window casings, cabinets,
etc. by removing the stain, sanding, restaining with another color
and varnishing is at least as costly as painting. The results can
be unpredictable, so it is usually advisable to paint the woodwork
for best results.
If you are getting new baseboards, you can buy many different styles
in synthetic paint grade material for less than real wood and have
the painter spray them before they are installed. Then you or your
carpenter can cut them to fit, caulk and fill the nail holes, then
touch up with paint after they are installed. (Your carpet and hardwood
specialists can advise you about the best time to install them in
relation to their work.)
The process to paint previously stained woodwork is as follows:
1. Clean with detergent (T.S.P. works fine)
2. Prime with a stain locking primer
3. Sand, caulk all cracks, fill all nail holes
4. Apply two finish coats of paint. My preferred application is
to spray since it saves time (and money) and you get a much nicer
finish. The down side is that you have little access to your home.
Although this is not inexpensive, the beautiful results should be
worth every penny you invest in your home.
Please visit us at http://ServiceMagic.com to become a member (it's
free) and research all your projects. Let us help you find the ideal
service professional in your area.
Good luck!
This information is brought to you by Tim Perryman of Perryman Painting
in Sacramento, California |
