I'm really not a fan of the lifeless white trim in my house and would much rather have the warmth and beauty of stained wood. Is it even possible to sand down the paint on my trim and then stain it? Or am I better off just replacing all the trim entirely?
3 Answers
Yes, it's technically possible to sand the paint off and stain, but brace yourself—it's a major pain in the butt! You'll be questioning your life choices about 10% in because it's a lot of work, especially if your millwork isn't great quality.
Given the time and effort, I’d recommend pulling all the trim and using a drum sander or planer to take it down to the bare wood. Sanding in place is a nightmare—you’ll end up damaging your floors and walls in the process!
So true! Just replacing the trim might actually save you a ton of headaches.
Before you start, check what kind of material your trim is—if it’s actual wood or something cheaper like finger-jointed stuff or plastic, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment. You may also find that it’s cheaper to simply remove the old trim and put in new pieces.
Totally agree! Sometimes it’s better to just invest in new, unstained wood rather than going through the hassle of sanding.
Exactly! If it's lower quality wood or made from MDF, you might find it frustrating trying to get that paint off.