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The Practical Website Of Painting And Wallpapering

3. If trim areas, such as window and door trim, and baseboards, are not to be painted, extra precaution must be taken to assure that they aren't smeared. One of the best ways is to use a cardboard shield, hand-held, when painting near these areas. Hold the cardboard edgewise between the trim and the wall. As an alternative, you can mask off the trim with masking tape. If paint does accidentally get on trim, wipe it off immediately.

4. If the room is now wallpapered and you wish to have it painted instead, use a latex paint, which provides excellent coverage. If you are painting a kitchen or bath and prefer using an oil-base glossy paint, you will have to remove the wallpaper before painting. Oil-base paint does not adhere to wallpaper. Thus, a wallpaper steamer will have to be used to strip wallpaper from the wall. See "Hanging Wallpaper."

If wallpaper is to stay in place and will be covered by latex paint, examine the paper for bubbles before painting. If any are found, slit them with a knife, apply some glue to the backside, and press the paper to the wall. Your object is to provide a smooth surface for the paint.

Whenever you paint indoors, no matter what kind of paint you are using, make sure there is adequate ventilation. Open the windows.

PAINTING THE TRIM

Painting trim involves its own special tricks. After walls and ceilings have been painted, turn your attention to baseboards. To protect the floor, hold a cardboard shield flush against the bottom edge of the trim. Brush paint on evenly and smoothly, using a sash and trim brush. Take your time.

Follow by painting windows. Use masking tape to protect glass. If glass does get smeared, wipe paint away right away before it dries.