I need advice from someone who has painted a baseboard that has a stained wood quarter round in front of it. [See photo below.] I can’t figure out how to paint it without getting paint on the quarter round. I have tried to tape the quarter round with painter’s tape, but it is not a perfect seal, and paint gets below the tape. I have tried holding a painter’s metal straight edge on top of the quarter round, but that also does not give a perfect seal. Once the paint gets on the quarter round, if it is still wet, I can wipe it off with a wet rag. Problem is that the paint is also wet on the baseboard, and it is impossible to just wipe the paint off the quarter round and not constantly pick up wet paint from the baseboard. I have had some luck scrapping the latex paint off the quarter round once it is dry, but if I scrap hard enough to remove the paint, I risk damaging the wood. Thus, does anyone have any advice on what to do?
How thick of a coat of varnish or polyurethane is on that quarter round? I think that if the wood is well-sealed, you may be able to paint the baseboard in sections, and after 20 minutes or so of drying time, lift the masking tape. Then bend a piece of lightweight bristol board against the baseboard and wipe the quarter round. Latex should come up off the varnish with a little coaxing if it’s not yet cured. Cheers, Andy
Thanks for the suggestion. I think it is well sealed. I like the idea, and I think using the painter’s metal straight edge might work for that second step of wiping off the quarter round while not constantly taking paint off the baseboard. I have used it in the first step to try to protect the quarter round, so then I could use it again to protect the baseboard.
The best thing would be to remove the quarter round. A pain, yes, but it will look great when you put it back on.
(Now, did I do this when I painted last weekend? No. And that’s why I now have to paint my quarter round. Sigh.)
That may be the best option, but I hate the idea, even if it will give the results. The most annoying part is that I wanted to paint the baseboard before the contractor installed the quarter round, but he didn’t give me time. He just “had” to get it done. I think it might have been some passive aggressiveness on his part since I only paid to paint the stairwell with its really high ceilings. Thus, since I wasn’t paying him to paint, why make it easy for me to paint? I don’t know maybe I’m just beyond annoyed with this baseboard painting, but he had to know it was going to be impossible for me to paint the baseboard with the quarter round already attached.
I agree with katiesci .. when I’ve done this it has been less hassle than I expected. Use one of those wee pry bars with a wide sharp edge so you can wiggle under the trim without denting it. Maybe you can pull it all back about a quarter inch without pulling the nails free, and then mask into the gap. Easy to pop it back after. Is it solid oak? Less chance of nails pulling through, or cracking the wood if so.
Anybody have advice on how to remove the paint from the baseboards? (I didn’t remove my baseboards either before painting) I’ve tried scraping but that scrapes the finish off as well….Would paint and varnish remover work or would that do more damage?
It’s a pre-fab baseboard…any ideas?
Why do you need to remove the paint? Why don’t you paint over it? If your goal is to stain instead of paint, then don’t bother. Wood that has been painted is not the quality needed to stain. Even if it was meant for staining, once it has been painted, you can’t stain it.