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Published on Aug 27, 2025

Hey folks! This is Kolten from Next Gen Remodels.

Welcome to another Q&A session where I answer questions from y'all on the internet.

Today's question is:

 "Do You Caulk and Paint Trim Before or After It’s Installed?"

Answer from Kolten

"All trim that we install typically comes pre-primed from the factory. So we install it only primed, and the process after installation for paint prep looks like this. We go around, we caulk all the corners that are inside, and we caulk all the tops that meet the drywall. On the outside, we use wood filler to fill on the outside exterior corners.

Any... And then we sand that down and let all the caulking dry. After this is all cured and the wood filler's dry, the caulking is dry, we come back through and we apply red Bondo. Red Bondo is another sealant or filler that is very crack-resistant. This prevents any of your trim from cracking over the next 5 to 20 years.

After everything has been installed and sanded down and it looks nice and flush, that's when we mask the walls, mask the floor, and we spray the trim. Spraying the trim always ensures a more even finished look across without any brush marks or roller marks."

Short Summary

When questioned about whether trim is caulked and painted before or after installation. Kolten Redfield outlined that pre-primed trim is installed first, then caulked at inside corners and where it meets drywall, wood filler is applied to exterior corners, and after drying, red bondo is applied for crack resistance. Once cured, walls and floors are masked, and trim is spray-painted for an even, smooth finish.

Have more remodeling related questions?

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(253) 777-2088

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