If you are painting the wooden exterior trim of your Toronto home, you are most likely in the last stages of painting your house — which is actually really exciting! It can be a bit of a slow process that takes a bit of time, even if you apply the same colour that you used on the siding. But painting your exterior wooden trim is always worth it in the long run as it adds so much depth and personality to your home.
The trim is any part of the exterior of your house that is not the same colour as the siding. For example, the mouldings around windows (outside window trim), doors and corners. Your exterior wooden trims should be painted after the siding is completed. Here are some guidelines for how to paint exterior trim:
Materials Needed:
- Ladder
- Rags
- Paint scraper
- Exterior wood filler
- Sandpaper
- Acrylic latex caulk
- Caulking gun
- Primer
- Hammer
- Paintbrush
- Paint
The thing to consider first when you’re thinking about painting exterior trim is what type of paint finish or gloss level you need to use. A good semi-gloss exterior paint, such as Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior Paint, is a great option if you want to maintain the natural look of wood without sacrificing durability. The semi-gloss finish will provide protection from the elements but still allow light to pass through so that your trim doesn’t absorb heat from direct sun exposure.
The thing about semi-gloss paint is that it gives a really smooth finish. It also has a certain degree of shine, which works to provide a visual contrast. So, to find the best paint for exterior trim, our tip is to get the top-rated exterior paint in a semi-gloss finish, so the trim on the outside of your home will stand out and look great for years!
How Much Does it Cost to Paint Exterior Trim?
Exterior trim painting cost can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including:
- Size of the home and its exterior trim (the amount of work you need to do)
- Type of paint you use (exterior paint is more expensive than interior)
- The region in which you live (costs can vary by state and even city)
- Your contractor’s experience level and reputation (higher-quality contractors are likely to charge more)
So, you can see that there are a lot of different factors at play when it comes to determining what exterior trim painting costs.
To get an accurate quote from a professional, simply provide them with a detailed description of your project. Including its square footage and what type of paint you plan on using. And they’ll be able to give you an estimate based on their past experience.
But just to give you a ballpark figure, the costs for this process are going to vary simply due to the size of your house. The average size home in Toronto is anywhere from 1,500 – 2,000 square feet. So, that works out to around 500 – 700 linear feet of trim for the outside of your home. The average cost for trim painting alone is usually $500 – $2,000. It also depends on the condition of your trim as sometimes it can be rotted out due to time and weather.
How To Paint Exterior Wood Trim Like A Pro
There are plenty of ways for you to paint wood trim on the house exterior like a pro, but we’re going to walk you through the steps that we recommend.
Step #1: Paint Station Preparation
- Set up a ladder so that you can access the trims safely.
- Take proper precautions if you are using an extension ladder. Set the feet of the ladder flat on the ground. Try to angle it at about 70 degrees.
- Wrap a pair of rags around the top end of the ladder rails so that they don’t ruin the paint on the siding.
- Also, be sure you have your exterior primer and paint all picked out and ready to go!
Step #2: Exterior Trim Preparation
- Scrape off peeling paint from the trim using a paint scraper.
- Fill the holes with exterior wood filler, like Elmer’s ProBond Max Wood Filler.
- Lightly sand it when it is fully dried.
- Caulk the seams between the trim and the siding.
Step #3: Prime
- You need a good primer, especially when working outdoors! Check out Exterior Latex Primer from Sherwin Williams. It’s fast drying and resists mildew, which is a major plus when you’re painting outside.
- Pour half a can of primer into an empty paint can.
- Stand on the ladder in a way that you can comfortably reach the trim. Hang the paint can over the ladder hook and make sure it is sturdy.
- Apply a coat of primer on the wood. This seals the wood and provides a better surface for the finish coat than bare wood.
Step #4: Paint
- Allow the primer to dry for about 2 hours.
- Paint the trim with the top coat.
- Because you prepared the surface with primer, you will probably only need one coat to fully cover the trims.
- For best results, use a high-quality bristle paintbrush with an angled edge. This helps you get to the hard-to-reach corners and edges.
Picking Out Exterior Painting Colours!
The really fun part about this process is picking out the perfect colour for your wooden exterior trim. After all, it’s important because all of the different features you choose for the exterior of your home need to fit seamlessly. If the exterior trim goes around the doors or windows, you want it to really enhance things and bring them up a level.
This season, a lot of people are going a bit bold with their exterior trim. Muted blacks, like Black Satin, are a nice choice, especially for grey homes or even red brick. Another favoured choice this year is Rever Pewter as it’s often a more modern look than simply white. Also, don’t forget to explore the grays, like Metropolitan. They make a statement while still remaining timeless.
Important PRO TIP: If you’re going to use a colour for the trim, be sure to choose something that will work with any paint colour. If you want black as your exterior trim colour, think about how much of that house will still be white and how much of it would look like a dark block if it were all black. You don’t want to make too drastic of a statement on the outside when there are so many other possibilities within.
Paint Exterior Wood Trim
More Interesting Blogs Related to
“Tips For Painting Your Wooden Exterior Trim”
If the work involved in painting your home’s exterior sounds like it involves too much time and energy to do yourself, call 416.494.9095 or email Brian@HomePaintersToronto.com for a FREE quote or visit our website Home Painters Toronto. And don’t forget to visit us on our social media channels below as well!
