How to

How to prepare trims & doors for painting

Gloss paints used for doors, windows, trim, architraves and skirting boards tend to emphasize every flaw and bump. When preparing these surfaces for painting, it's therefore especially important to ensure that all surface imperfections are properly filled and smoothed. What's just as important, is using a specialised filler to ensure the best high gloss finish. Polyfilla Trim and Doors is the ideal filler under gloss paints as it sands to a super smooth, hard, "mirror-like" finish, perfect for gloss retention. 

You'll need:

• Poly Sugar Soap
• Polyfilla Trim and Doors
• A flexible filling blade 
• Fine sandpaper (400 grit) 
• A soft brush

Cleaning
With fine sandpaper, remove lumps, bumps and any paint flakes. Brush off excess dust and wash down the surfaces with Poly Sugar Soap. Let the Sugar Soap dry completely. 

Filling small holes, cracks and dents 

1. Apply a small amount of Polyfilla Trim and Doors to your filling blade and draw it across each imperfection, pressing firmly to ensure cracks and dents are properly filled and no air bubbles are present. Remove excess filler to minimise sanding time. 
2. Wait until the application has dried (2 hours for thin 2mm applications depending on humidity), then lightly sand with fine 400 grit sandpaper to an even finish. For a perfect finish after initial sanding back, apply another very thin coat of filler, allow to dry and sand lightly again. Ensure all dust is removed with a soft brush. Allow longer drying times for deeper applications or if painting with oil based paints (24 hours minimum).  
3. Now you've created a super smooth, mirror-like finish you're ready to paint! For best results, apply a paint undercoat before applying your gloss top coat.