Trim first?

[cwarn]

I just had the drywall finished in my new construction and I thought I was ready to paint. Talked to a painter and he told me that I needed to have the trim installed before painting the walls. I am painting the trim as well so my question is what order do most guys do the painting/trimming?

It seems to me that it would be easier to paint the walls with nothing to mask or paint around. Is this not the best way since I will be painting the trim too?

Also, should the flooring(tile, wood laminate) be installed before or after the trim? I was going to install trim first but now I don't know if that is the easiest way or not.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

[giddonah]

it seems like the logical thing to do, but sometimes trim needs some painters caulk to fix up a gap, so putting up painted trim, then taping is easier.

[woodall83]

trim before paint, flooring after trim and paint.

[TnAndy]

I'd say it depends on who is doing what.

If YOU are installing the flooring, personally, I'd paint the walls, install the flooring and put the trim on top the flooring.....lot easier and you get a better job, especially not having to install finish flooring around door jambs, etc.

That's the way "I" do it....but then, I'm doing the painting, the flooring install and the trim......so I do what is easiest for ME.

[Don_P]

I agree with Merle :),
It depends. We are painting one now while I manufacture and prep natural finish trim. Doing the high trim and windows now, will let the flooring guys in and then do the lower work.

Flooring guys tend to splay jambs if given the opportunity, I try to deny them the chance.

[diyfire]

I am just another diy, but I have done it in all different orders seems to me the easyest way is to paint the walls put the put in the upper trim and paint then the floor and base moldings to follow. Flooring should be close to last because it is pretty expensive and harder to replace if you have an accident with the paint. Base molding is last because it give you a better finished look on the flooring.

[Dansbell]

We install a lot of pre-finished stained casework in homes. Painting is always done before we get there.

[David]

I don't think I'd trust the opinion of a guy named mad-lover, would you? LOL. Dude (ML), you just contradicted everyone's opinion which is fine, but you give no justification.

The OP said he has painted trim (not stained) and tile/laminate flooring. I'd suggest painting first, then installing the flooring, then installing the trim.

This allows you to provide adequate spacing around the flooring yet getting it close to the walls. Doing so allows you to use a thinner shoe mold instead of a larger quarter round. And, as TnAndy said, you don't have to work around door jambs. Also, you don't have to worry as much about mortar or adhesive getting on trim if you floor before you trim.

[HDNord]

Also depends on the type of finish on the trim. For trim and baseboards we stained and applied polyurethane on alder wood before installing.

[David]

OP is painting it. Best choices for that, I believe, are oil-based. Around here in new construction by production builders they are sprayed in place, but I'd suggest they were sprayed elsewhere and installed after the flooring.

Given the date of the post, he's hopefully already finished!

[Dragon]

Paint your trim AFTER installation. Do you really want to have to touch up every nail hole? Stained trim can be done beforehand, but for enamel paint it really is best to wait.

[DavidC]

I would paint. Then paint the trip. Then install the painted trim.

Of course, be ready for touch ups. :)

[WarChief]

I just had the drywall finished in my new construction and I thought I was ready to paint. Talked to a painter and he told me that I needed to have the trim installed before painting the walls. I am painting the trim as well so my question is what order do most guys do the painting/trimming?

It seems to me that it would be easier to paint the walls with nothing to mask or paint around. Is this not the best way since I will be painting the trim too?

Also, should the flooring(tile, wood laminate) be installed before or after the trim? I was going to install trim first but now I don't know if that is the easiest way or not.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Being a finish carpenter I would suggest that you trim first and paint last. Simple reason is that studs are easier to find on unpainted walls, therefore making sure that the base trim is properly nailed to studs and not just pinned to the drywall.
As for the flooring,tile and vinyl should be installed prior to trim allowing for the base to help in keeping the vinyl from curling along the walls. As for laminate, if it is pre-finished, then after the trim, if hardwood then prior to trim.