How to Paint Doors, Windows, and Walls

By: Bill Brockway, This Old House magazine

Shopping List

Supplies You Will Need

1. PAINT
one gallon typically covers about 350 square feet

2. MASKING TAPE (1 1/2-INCH WIDE)
for securing rosin paper to floor and protecting baseboard

3. SILICON-CARBIDE SANDPAPER
120-grit for bare wood or old paint; 220-grit for primer or between-coat smoothing

4. LIGHTWEIGHT SPACKLING COMPOUND
for filling holes and cracks in drywall and plaster

5. DUST MASK
for protecting lungs when sanding

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Tools List
Tools You Will Need
- Cordless drill, for removing and replacing door and window hardware
- Paint roller for painting walls and ceilings
- Paint pan, for loading roller with paint
- Telescoping extension pole with pole sanding head for reaching ceilings and the tops of walls without using a ladder
- Caulking gun, for filling gaps between the woodwork and wall
- Brush, roller spinner, and wire brush, for cleaning brushes
- Hammer and nail set, for recessing nail heads
- Synthetic-bristle brushes (2 ½-inch blunt, 1 ½-inch angled sash, "throwaways" for touch-ups), for painting molding, doors, and windows
- Putty knife for applying spackling compound
- 5-in-1 pinter's tool for cleaning roller covers
- Utility knife,
  for cutting tip of caulk gun
- Window scraper and razor blades, for removing paint from window glass
- Drywall sander, attaches to shop vacuum for sanding joint-compound patches
- Paint strainer, for removing impurities when paint is poured from can into pot
- Bucket, to fit with liners and hold paint
- Wet/Dry Vaccum with broom attachment
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Photos by: David Carmack

Introduction
Overview
Steps:
- 1
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1. Sand flat woodwork

After wiping down any dirty woodwork with a household cleaner, sand the trim, doors, and windows with 120-grit silicon-carbide sandpaper. Sand old paint so new paint can adhere. Sand bare wood to remove raised grain, level off wood filler, and ease over sharp edges.

When sanding flat surfaces, hold the sandpaper in your hand to get into any slight depressions that a rigid sanding block would miss.