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Painting a house is no easy task. There are many steps that need to be taken and there are very specific procedures that need to be followed; unless, of course, your goal is to create a disaster zone.

One of the most tedious tasks that a contracted painter must complete is painting the trim of a home. What I will do here is go through the step by step process that is required to be completed when attacking this aspect of house painting.

Let's begin by listing the basic equipment that is needed:

- Quality Paint Brushes
- The Selected Paint
- Masking Tape (That is specifically designed for painting)
- Newspaper

1. Select The Paint

The first step that a contracted painter would take in the process, as always, is to select the type and color of the paint that you want to use for the trim. Obviously, you will want to select a color that is congruent with the color of the entire house. You will also need to decide if you want to use a water based paint or oil based paint.

2. Prep Work

Here you will need to prepare the surface as well as any areas that may be affected by the painting work. First you will want to scrape all of the loose paint from the surface area of the trim. Next, you will need to take all of the screens off of the windows around your home. Finally, you will need to caulk the window seals and make sure that it is dry before painting over it.

3. Get Your Tape On

Next, you will want to tape over the windows. A contracted painter will typically tape back 2-4 inches from the edge of the window. After you have taped the windows, you will want to paint the sashes. Be sure to paint them while they are open so that they do not dry shut together.

4. Frame Time

Now you will need to paint the frames on the windows. You will want to be very careful to not get any paint on the window screens.

5. Now The Doors

A contracted painter will now cover any metal parts and or door knobs so as not to get any paint on them. After you have done so, proceed with painting the insets of the doors first and then move outward.

6. Final Round

Finally, you will need to make a final trip around the home to see if you might need any additional coats of paint. Also, you will want to take a small brush with you in order to fill in any spots that you were not able to get with the bigger brushes you used in the first round.

Voila! You have now completed the process of painting the trim on your home. This is the approximate process that a contracted painter would follow. Obviously, there would be some variations in the process and you will need to adjust to any challenges that may arise in the process. However, if you follow this process, you should be in great shape.