Baseboard help! Paint, leave them or replace??

8 years ago

We are updating our 1999 kitchen with stained cabinets (we aren't fans of white cabinets) and I am considering doing all of the baseboards and trim and doors in the house but that seems like a daunting task! are stained doors and trim completely out of style? Is it worth doing all that work (probably including the banister)? Do we paint them or replace them if we do? should I just restain them? The baseboards are very yellowed and the doors have gotten really orange in color. Who do I call to do it -Carpenter, painter, etc? Any ideas on cost? Of course we also have wood window trim! it all seemed like a great idea 20 years ago when we built! thank you in advance!

Featured Answer

jhmarie

8 years ago

I painted my dark stained pine trim many years ago. it was not shiny and like functionthenlook, I cleaned the wood and then used a good primer (Zinsser 123, though Zinsser BIN is probably better) and then a acrylic latex enamel topcoat.

I did not paint the doors and I have stained cabinets. I like the white and wood look combo - gives the brightness of the white with the warmth of wood. I would not paint the doors.

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Many of my relatives and friends have homes similar to yours and none are painting the trim. I live in the midwest and wood trim is no big deal. So, if you are fine with it, leave it. If you want a little change, do the trim only. You can do just a few rooms to start - it doesn't have to be done all at once.

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Comments (8)

ci_lantro
8 years ago
Leave them alone.

The reason that you see so much painted woodwork now is because stain grade millwork is expensive. So, cheapcrapola mdf gets installed instead.

Or worse. I just noticed some particle board wrapped in contact paper base when I was in Menard's looking for base for the basement. Unbelievable that anyone would buy that yet there was a family in there who had a cart loaded down with the crap. Can't imagine what it will look like in five years.
flyr4fun
8 years ago
The trim looks in nice shape but not anything special in terms of wood type or architecture that would favor preservation, IMO. Restaining it all is very tedious and if not DIY, then it would be $$$. I would re-stain or leave the doors, and paint out the baseboard and door casings. On the staircase, stain the banister and paint the spindles. You're keeping the flooring as is?
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sloyder
8 years ago
Do you like the natural wood, that is the question? Of course the varnish on the stained woodwork will have to be dulled down using sandpaper, and then painted if that is what you want. Yes, it is lots of work.
functionthenlook
8 years ago
I had orange woodwork in my current home. I just couldn't bring myself to strip , sand, stain, and finish coat it all. It is a lot of work. I painted mine. I washed with TSP and put on a primer and semi-gloss paint. I did not sand and I am having no problems with the paint.
grapefruit1_ar
8 years ago
I think that your trim will look much better with a warmer wall color ( get rid of that blue). Colorful art, rugs, and accessories will then top it off.
kimstamps
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you all! I don't mind the wood look but I would like the color a little more updated. I love the idea of the white baseboards and the wood doors. We are not replacing the floors in the rooms I took a picture of and the blue is only on two walls in that room. We are replacing the floors in the kitchen through the family room. So we will have to remove the baseboards and replace them. I may have to just go room to buy room and do it slowly.
nwblondie74
6 years ago
I know its been a few years since this post. We are struggling with the same question. 90s home with honey oak trim, doors and windows. Going to chagne the carpet and walls from beige/tans to greys. Cant decide if it is time for white trim. If so, do we do the doors and window trim? And the doors themselves? They are plain hollow core.

What did you end up doing?