Painting Skirting Boards, Doors and Woodwork the Professional Way

Woodwork is where decorating standards show. A beautifully painted wall sits next to a rough skirting board and the whole room looks tired.

The difference is almost entirely preparation.

Start by cleaning

Skirting boards collect dust, grease and scuffs. Wash with sugar soap or a mild degreaser and let the wood dry. Paint will not grip a greasy surface.

Sand properly

If the existing paint is sound, a light sand to remove the shine is enough. This is called keying. It gives the next coat something to grip.

If the paint is flaking, chipped or thick from many layers, scrape it back and feather the edges. Heavy build-up is worth stripping to avoid a lumpy finish.

Repair and fill

Fill holes, dents and open joints with a woodwork filler. Use flexible decorator’s caulk along the top of the skirting where it meets the wall, and in gaps between architraves and plaster. Caulk is the secret to crisp lines.

Prime bare areas

Bare wood needs a wood primer. Knots need knotting solution first, or resin will bleed through and stain the paint yellow. Spot prime any filled patches. For help choosing, see primer, undercoat or mist coat.

Undercoat, then topcoat

On bare or heavily repaired wood, apply an undercoat and sand it lightly when dry. Then finish with one or two coats of satin or gloss. Between each coat, sand lightly and wipe off the dust.

Water-based woodwork paints dry faster and smell less. They have improved enormously. Oil-based paints still give a harder, smoother finish for some, but they yellow over time in white.

Brush technique

Use a good brush, because cheap bristles shed and leave streaks. Load a moderate amount of paint and lay it on, then smooth it with light strokes in the direction of the grain. Do not overwork it. Overbrushing drags the paint as it begins to set.

Work in sections and keep a wet edge. Work from the top of a door down, and from the panels outwards.

Doors in particular

Remove handles rather than masking around them. Paint panels first, then the cross rails, then the vertical stiles. Don’t forget the edges, which take wear.

Order of work

Decorate in this order if you can: ceiling, walls, then woodwork. Gloss and satin pick up dust, so dust and vacuum before the final coat.

The finishing touch

Peel masking tape while the paint is still slightly soft, at a low angle, to avoid pulling a ridge of paint away.

Specialist woodwork

Old, painted joinery in period properties may involve lead paint. Read our lead paint guide before sanding. Furniture and cabinets follow similar rules, as we describe in our wood and furniture painting service. If cupboards are the job, see kitchen cupboard respray vs replace.

For a flawless result throughout your home, ask us for a quote.