DRJ Painters and Decorators Sydney

Trusted Residential & Commercial Painting Services Since 2003

How to Paint Trim Neatly

A Pro's Guide to Skirting Boards & Architraves

Think of your walls as the artwork and the trim—your skirting boards, architraves, and door frames—as the picture frame. When the frame is crisp, clean, and beautifully finished, it makes the entire room look sharper and more complete. It’s a detailed, fiddly job, and mistakes like wobbly lines, drips, and brush marks are incredibly noticeable. But with the right preparation and a few professional techniques, you can achieve that perfectly neat finish that truly elevates your space.

Prep Work: The Foundation for a Flawless Frame

Trim gets knocked about, so it needs thorough preparation to ensure the new paint is both smooth and durable. This is where you should spend most of your time.

Blue painter's tape being applied neatly along the top of a skirting board.
  1. Clean Every Surface: Skirting boards are magnets for dust and scuff marks. Give all trim a comprehensive wipe-down with a bucket of Sugar Soap and a cloth to remove grime. Let it dry completely.
  2. Fill Dings and Dents: Use a multi-purpose filler and a small putty knife to fill any dents, chips, or old nail holes. Overfill the repair slightly so it sits just proud of the surface.
  3. Sand for Grip: Once the filler is dry, sand it perfectly smooth with 180-grit sandpaper. Then, crucially, give all of the old trim a light "scuff sand". Most trim has a glossy or semi-gloss finish, and this step is vital for creating a surface the new paint can properly adhere to.
  4. Wipe Off the Dust: After sanding, the trim will be covered in fine dust. Use a tack cloth or a damp microfibre rag to wipe every surface clean. Painting over dust will ruin your smooth finish.

The Painting Process: Long Strokes and a Light Touch

With your prep work done, the painting itself is all about methodical, patient application.

An angled paintbrush applying a smooth coat of white paint to a skirting board.
  • Tape for Perfect Lines: Apply high-quality painter's tape to the wall, right along the top edge of your skirting boards and the outer edge of your architraves. Also, tape the floor if it's a hard surface you need to protect. **Pro Tip:** Firmly press the edge of the tape down with a putty knife to create a tight seal and prevent any paint from bleeding underneath.
  • Use the Right Tools: A high-quality 50mm angled brush is the perfect tool for this job. For paint, a hard-wearing water-based enamel like Dulux Aquanamel is the modern standard—it’s tough, won’t yellow, and is easy to clean up.
  • Paint with Long, Smooth Strokes: Dip the first third of your brush in the paint and tap off the excess. Apply the paint to the trim using long, continuous strokes. Avoid dabbing or going back and forth over the same spot too many times, as this creates texture and brush marks.
  • Two Thin Coats are Best: A thick single coat is likely to drip and sag. Apply two thin coats for a more durable and professional finish. Allow the first coat to dry completely before giving it a very light sand with a fine-grit (240-grit) sandpaper for an ultra-smooth base for the final coat.
  • The Tape Removal Trick: Don't wait for the paint to fully cure before removing the tape. The best time is when the final coat is still slightly wet but not dripping (usually after about an hour). Pull the tape back on itself at a 45-degree angle for the sharpest possible line.

Pro Tip from a Sydney Painter

The true mark of professional work is in the flawless finish of the trim. It requires a steady hand, a lot of patience, and an eye for detail that only comes with experience. We spend a significant amount of time on preparation to ensure every surface is perfectly smooth before the first coat of enamel is even applied. For those crisp, satisfyingly clean lines that make a room truly shine, trust the experts at DRJ Painting to get it right every time.

What Our Customers Say

"Highly recommend David for your painting needs. He is skilled, professional, on time and a gentleman through and through. His key point of difference with other tradies is his wonderful communication skills. Would definitely use his services again."

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