Unpopular opinion: most people over-sand their trim work before painting

I was helping my buddy finish his basement in Grand Rapids last month and watched him hit every piece of baseboard with 220 grit for like 20 minutes. I mean, I get that you want it smooth, but primer and paint will fill tiny scratches just fine. The real issue is people skip cleaning off the dust before they paint, and that makes the finish look rough. I only sand new trim with 120 grit to knock down the factory sheen, then wipe it down with a tack cloth. Has anyone else noticed how much time gets wasted on extra sanding steps?

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2 Comments

oliviahenderson3mo ago

220 grit for 20 minutes on new trim? thats absolutely insane, i woulda walked out on him haha

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jamienguyen3mo ago

Had a buddy whose painter did that, ended up with paint peeling off in sheets a month later.

3