PSA: My old way of painting trim was a total waste of time

I used to paint all my trim with a brush, cutting in by hand and trying to get a smooth finish. It would take me a whole weekend just to do one room, and I'd always have brush marks and uneven lines. About two years ago, after my third attempt on the baseboards in my living room, my neighbor saw me and asked why I wasn't using a trim guard. I had never even heard of one. I bought a basic plastic one for maybe eight bucks at the hardware store. Now, I tape off the floor, use the guard against the wall, and roll the trim with a small foam roller. It takes a quarter of the time and the finish is way cleaner, with no messy touch-ups on the wall. Has anyone else switched to a method like this for painting, or found a better tool for the job?

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4 Comments

the_elliot7mo ago

Oh my gosh, yes! I had the same exact lightbulb moment with a paint edger for my ceilings.

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david_jones387mo ago

My buddy used one on his baseboards and still got paint on his new hardwood. Isn't the real trick in the tape you use with it?

3

wyatt_mitchell267mo ago

Honestly, he got paint on the floor even with the edger? That's wild. Tbh, the tape is everything, but you have to press it down super hard along the edge. If you don't, paint just sneaks right under.

6

gracec165mo ago

3 houses I've done and tape is always the make or break part.

4