How to Paint Doors & Trim with Your Paint Sprayer

Often overlooked, painting the doors and trim in a room puts the professional-looking finishing touches on your interior painting project.

 

 

Prep/Getting Started

Before starting any painting project, clean the surface to be painted as thoroughly as possible. Allow surface to dry completely before painting.

Safety Notice: Whenever operating equipment it is important to take proper safety precautions, be mindful of potential hazards, wear protective clothing and eyewear, and stay alert. Always refer to the specific instructions and safety procedures for the spray equipment you are using.

Clear – Move as much of the furniture out of the room as possible. Any furniture left in the room should be moved to the center and completely covered. Make sure to have plenty of space for your tools and equipment.
Cover – Mask and paper around trim to protect wall surfaces. Cover nearby furniture and floors under trim and door.
Remove – Remove door and place across two sawhorses or a table. Remove all hardware from door.
Repair – Check for cracks or holes in doors or trim. Fill with putty as needed. Sand any rough areas.
Clean – For trim, wipe clean and allow to dry thoroughly. For doors, wipe clean and allow to dry. Lightly sand surface with fine sandpaper, then wipe again to remove dust. This will help paint adhere to the surface.
Safety – When painting indoors, make sure that there is adequate ventilation. Wear protective clothing. This may include: gloves, eyewear, clothing, spray sock (hood), hats, footwear, dust masks and respirators. If you’re painting in the vicinity of any appliances turn them off. (See Safety Precautions in your Sprayer Operation Manual.)

Step By Step

Before you start spraying, be sure that all surfaces are properly prepped. Any surfaces you do not want painted should be covered or blocked using a spray shield.
Select the spray tip that best meets your needs for the material (paint) you are spraying and the surface to be sprayed. Be sure the hole size selected does not exceed the maximum capacity of your sprayer. (see tip selector.)
When spraying lighter materials like stains, select the lowest pressure setting that enables you to maintain a good spray pattern. Lower pressure settings will give you better control and a finer finish.
Spray paint in long, even strokes keeping the tip about 12 inches from the surface being sprayed. For doors, point the spray tip at the edge of the previously painted area to overlap by approximately 50%.
See - How to use a paint sprayer: Spray Techniques for more spraying pointers.

Clean Up

Allow significant time for the paint to dry before removing tape from your trim. This will result in crisp, clean lines.
Remove all coverings from furniture and other areas.
Replace any hardware that may have been removed and rehang any doors.
Clean your airless paint sprayer after each use. Follow the directions in your user’s manual for Power Flush™ cleaning with water based materials or use the bucket method of cleaning for Graco 190ES and solvent based products. For more info see Power Flush Video (wmv 1.4MB) or refer to your Sprayer Operation Manual.

Suggested Tools & Equipment

• 2 empty buckets – For priming sprayer and clean-up.
• Stir sticks.
• Paint strainer bag – Helps eliminate tip plugging and provides a better finish.
• Prep items: tarps or drop cloths – plastic sheeting – masking tape.
• Paint / Stain – If using paint from multiple containers it is recommended that you transfer / mix paint from multiple containers together in an empty 5 gallon container. This is known as “boxing” the paint and ensures consistent color even if small differences in color exist between paint batches.
• Paint brush for touch-ups.
• Graco or Magnum Paint Sprayer (see comparison chart or sprayer selector).
• Spray Tips (see tip selector) – A narrow spray width size like 6 or 8 inch typically works best for trim and doors.
• Tip Extension(s) – For hard to reach areas that would otherwise require a ladder.
• Pressure Roller Attachments.
• Two – 8 inch or larger adjustable wrenches.
• Additional airless hose sections if needed.
• Spray shield.
• Pump Armor for storage after use and TSL for Graco 190ES .
• Cleaning rags.
• Cleaning brushes – Stiff nylon (small and large) for clean-up.
• Safety and protection equipment such as: Safety glasses/goggles – dust masks/respirator - spray sock (hood worn over head to keep off overspray)