Trim & Millwork Painting in Knoxville, TN
Trim is where a paint job goes from good to exceptional. Baseboards, crown molding, window casings, door frames, chair rails, and custom millwork — these are the details that define a room. When trim is painted poorly, you see every brush stroke, every drip, every gap. When it is painted well, the entire space looks finished, intentional, and high-end.
At Cutting Edge Painting, trim is not an afterthought — it is a specialty. Jesse Castillo personally oversees every trim project, and we use techniques that most painters skip because they take too long: hand-brushing, sanding between coats, caulking every joint, and using the right product for the material and location.
Our Trim & Millwork Process
- Inspection & Planning: Jesse examines all trim, noting gaps, cracks, nail holes, peeling, and areas where caulk has separated. We map the scope before we start — no surprises mid-project.
- Cleaning & Deglossing: All trim surfaces are wiped down and lightly sanded or deglossed to ensure the new coat bonds properly. Glossy or previously varnished trim gets extra attention here.
- Caulking & Filling: Every gap between trim and wall, every nail hole, and every joint crack gets filled and caulked. This step alone makes more visual difference than most homeowners expect. We use paintable, flexible caulk rated for interior movement.
- Priming: Bare wood, stained trim being converted to paint, and any repairs get primed with a shellac or bonding primer. This prevents bleed-through and ensures a uniform base for the topcoat.
- Application — Brush & Mini-Roller: We hand-brush trim for a smooth, factory-quality finish. Flat surfaces like wide baseboards and casings may get a mini-roller followed by brush-tipping. We apply two coats minimum with light sanding between coats for maximum smoothness.
- Final Detail & Touch-Up: We inspect every piece of trim at eye level and from the floor — checking for holidays, drips, brush marks, and clean lines at wall transitions. Touch-ups happen before we leave the room, not days later.
What We Paint
- Baseboards and shoe molding
- Crown molding and cornice details
- Window casings and sills
- Door frames, jambs, and headers
- Chair rail and wainscoting
- Stair railings, newel posts, and balusters
- Custom millwork, built-up molding, and architectural details
- Fireplace mantels and surrounds
- Coffered ceilings and beam wraps
Products We Use for Trim
Trim takes more abuse than walls — it gets scuffed, bumped, vacuumed against, and touched constantly. That is why we use harder, more durable coatings specifically formulated for trim:
- Sherwin-Williams ProClassic Alkyd/Hybrid: Our go-to for interior trim. Levels beautifully, dries hard, and resists yellowing over time. Available in satin and semi-gloss.
- Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel: Premium option for high-end homes. Exceptional leveling, hardness, and stain resistance. A true furniture-grade finish.
- Benjamin Moore Advance: An excellent waterborne alkyd alternative with outstanding flow and leveling for trim work.
We never use flat wall paint on trim. The wrong product means scuff marks within months, yellowing, and a cheap appearance — the exact opposite of what trim work should achieve.
Stained Trim vs. Painted Trim
Many Knoxville homes — especially those built in the 1990s and 2000s — have stained oak or pine trim that homeowners want to update to a painted finish. This is one of our most requested services. Converting stained trim to painted requires proper prep: cleaning, sanding, priming with a high-adhesion bonding primer (shellac-based for tannin-rich woods like oak and pine), and two coats of enamel. Done right, the result is a clean, modern look that completely transforms a space.
