Lesson 7 — Painting woodwork

Tools and materials

• Woodwork primer/undercoat and topcoat (satin, eggshell or gloss)
• Good-quality 25–50 mm brushes or small foam roller
• Fine filler, caulk
• Abrasive paper (e.g. 120 then 180–240 grit)
• Tack cloth
• Masking tape for floors

Preparation checklist

• Walls finished and dry, or plan to cut in carefully.
• Vacuum the floor along skirting so dust doesn't get picked up.
• Mask carpet edges or use a shield.

Safety precautions

• Ventilate the room while painting and drying.
• Wear eye protection when working overhead or with chemicals.
• Keep paint, solvents and tools out of reach of children and pets.
• Old woodwork in older homes may have lead paint — test before sanding (GOV.UK guidance).

Step by step

1. Clean the woodwork to remove grease and dirt.
2. Sand existing paint to a dull key; sand bare wood with the grain.
3. Fill dents with fine filler; caulk gaps at wall joins. Sand filler flush when dry.
4. Dust off with vacuum and tack cloth.
5. Prime bare wood and filler (Lesson 4).
6. Apply the first coat working with the grain: lay the paint on, spread it across, then finish with light strokes along the length.
7. Work in manageable lengths and blend each into the next while wet.
8. When dry, lightly denib with fine paper, dust off.
9. Apply the final coat with the same method; avoid going back over areas that have started to set.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Too thick a coat — runs and slow drying.
• Brushing back into tacky paint — drag marks.
• Painting before dust has settled.

Troubleshooting

• Runs: brush out while wet; if dry, sand flat and recoat.
• Visible brush marks: use a better brush, keep coats even, finish with light strokes.

Final quality check

• Smooth to touch
• No runs, bits or holidays (missed spots)
• Clean line against walls and floor