What Paint Should I Use For Trim And Doors?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions we get from customers who hire us for the hard parts of painting (foyers and anything requiring a ladder!) but still like to get their hands dirty. What paint should I use for trim and doors? Good news: WE HAVE AN ANSWER! In fact we have 3…
First things first, the best sheen option is widely considered to be semi-gloss. The reason for this is that it has a nice look to it, and it is typically much more durable than flat or satin. Durability is extremely important for trim and doors because they take a beating from kids, pets, and vacuum cleaners, and often need to be cleaned/wiped down without degrading the finish. Always use Krud Kutter (I personally dilute 4:1) for cleaning, especially for things like handprints and day to day grease. Do NOT, under any circumstances, use a magic eraser to clean trim. It is abrasive and will degrade the surface of even the highest quality trim and door paints.
MAIN CRITERIA WE ARE CONSIDERING FOR RATING PAINT: Adhesion, Coverage, Durability, Viscosity/Ease of Application, Dry Time, and Self-Leveling Properties.
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Sherwin Williams Emerald Semi-Gloss: This product is best in class for many reasons. It is outstanding in all of the above categories (although we would love to see a quicker re-coat time in the next version). Emerald is best known in the industry for superior adhesion, and it really does hold up to its reputation. This paint sticks to most anything, and even works well over most oil-based paints as long as proper prep has been done (de-gloss and sanding). We have found coverage to be good enough that one coat is often sufficient if the existing paint is remotely close in color. For example, it usually requires 2 coats to convert a shell/off-white to a pure or bright white, but Emerald will often get it done in one. This helps to justify the hefty price tag, as homeowner make the money back tenfold by not having to pay us to paint things twice (or spend the time if DIY). Finally, the thing we love the MOST about Emerald is its usability. Most higher end products require a lengthy learning curve to get used to them, but this one is very forgiving and goes on easily. Even a novice DIYer should have little problem getting their trim and doors looking great.
Sherwin Williams Emerald Paint, Best In Class
CAN I GET A DISCOUNT ON THAT??? YES, watch for local sales every quarter. Sherwin Williams is currently running a 30% off on Emerald through September 10.
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Benjamin Moore Advance Semi-Gloss: This is another outstanding, high-end product that can make trim and doors look like something straight out of Houzz or HGTV. Advance has incredible durability, and has some of the best adhesion available. This paint is chemically different than the other 2 in our discussion in that it is a waterborne alkyd. In a nutshell, it goes on as a water-based product, and dries into an oil. Please don’t ask me to explain the chemistry on this. I CAN tell you that this is how Advance is able to achieve its classic look without having to deal with an actual oil-based product. The down side of this chemistry is that it also makes Advance somewhat difficult to work with (even for pros, watch out for drips and runs) and makes for a VERY long dry time (as in re-coat the next day). Definitely worth the wait if the classic oil look is what you are going for! Hefty price tag on this one as well…
Benjamin Moore Advance, Rock Hard Finish for Trim and Doors
CAN I GET A DISCOUNT ON THAT??? Rarely, unless you are a contractor. Much less than most brands, usually 15-20%.
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PPG Manor Hall Semi-Gloss: This paint is a solid choice and performs very well in all categories across the board, and for that reason it is our go to product for the bulk of our work. It does not have quite the level of adhesion as Emerald or Advance, but it has more than enough for standard day to day painting. Its coverage is excellent, and it lays down very nicely to eliminate brush strokes with minimal effort. This paint also levels out nicely from a whiz/mini-roller, and provides a smooth look when rolled on doors. It is a little thicker than most paints so plan on taking it slow until you get used to it. Overall Manor Hall is 95% of the quality for 60% of the cost of Emerald and Advance. NOT recommended for covering oil-based products without a suitable primer.
PPG Manor Hall, Excellent Paint Product for Doors and Trim
CAN I GET A DISCOUNT ON THAT??? Yes, watch for quarterly sales and great prices for contractors.
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Would the SW Emerald require one or two coats going on new, primed trim? How many gallons would you get for 177 sq ft of trim? Thanks!
Hi Jim – It depends on who you are talking to about the emerald urethane coverage. My philosophy is that 2 coats are always better than 1, so if you have the time/budget I would suggest doing 2. On the other hand, that paint is super durable so if you are only going to paint 1 coat, that is the right product to use. 1 gallon should be plenty for that amount of trim.