Prime Before You Paint! Raleigh DIY Diva- January 30, 2006

Another day spent in the DIY Realm! Today, it was sanding previously "patched" 25 year old baseboards, chair railing, and door framing. Lack of care and updating by the previous (original) owners left the moldings in our house beaten and battered. Last night, I patched the holes with wood filler and scraped all peeling paint and drip marks from the previous owner's (hereafter known as PO) poor attempt to "freshen" things up. Surface blemishes were filled with my favorite, DAP-- the stuff that goes on pink and dries white. This was helpful in the elimination of the scratch and chew marks from some dog that PO had over the years. Sanding was done wearing a HEPA mask-- it's tempting to skip this safety feature, but don't. ALWAYS PRIME BEFORE YOU PAINT. Under no circumstances should you ever paint a door, window, or other trim without priming. Even if you think the paint will stick, it won't. Plus, your work is a reflection of your own values-- do don't do anything half assed! The result? Gorgeous, smooth, and fresh: our baseboards, door trim, and chair railing. Next: Tackle the crown molding and scrape the ceiling. Wow. Later!