- Totally with you on the masking tape. I tried being “by the book” on my first window and it just felt like I was prepping for a NASA launch, not fixing up my living room. The tape took forever, and even then, I still managed to get caulk where I didn’t want it.
- The smaller tip trick is a game changer. I used to just hack off the end and wonder why I was fighting a giant blob of caulk. Now I start tiny and only trim more if I really need to.
- Wet finger method is my go-to too. I’ve got a little dish of water with a drop of dish soap on standby—makes the bead super smooth, plus way easier to clean your hands after.
- One thing I’d add: if you’re working in an older house (mine’s 1940s), sometimes the trim isn’t totally flush with the wall, so you get weird gaps. In those spots, I’ll actually use a little painter’s tape just for that section, but otherwise, I skip it.
- Agree on the plastic caulking tools—sometimes they help, sometimes they just drag extra caulk everywhere. If I’m feeling fancy, I’ll use one for the final pass, but nine times out of ten it’s just my finger.
- Learned the hard way that white caulk on navy blue trim is not forgiving. Had to touch up with paint after, which kind of defeated the whole “quick and easy” idea.
- For cleanup, old credit cards or those fake hotel key cards work really well as gentle scrapers, especially if you don’t want to risk nicking the paint with a knife.
- Only other tip: if you’re doing this in cold weather, warm up the caulk tube a bit (I stick it in my pocket for ten minutes). It flows way smoother and doesn’t clump up as much.
Honestly, after a few windows you get into a rhythm and realize perfection isn’t always worth the hassle... unless you’re working on something that’s going to be eye-level for every guest who walks in. Then maybe it’s worth taping. Otherwise, I’ll take a little imperfection over spending half my Saturday masking trim.
Honestly, after a few windows you get into a rhythm and realize perfection isn’t always worth the hassle... unless you’re working on something that’s going to be eye-level for every guest who walks in. Then maybe it’s worth taping.
Couldn’t agree more about picking your battles. I spent way too much time taping every inch on my first window—by the third one, I just did the corners and spots where the gap was big. One thing I learned the hard way: if your caulk is old, toss it. I tried to “save money” and ended up with lumpy beads that looked terrible. Sometimes shortcuts just aren’t worth it...
Taping every inch… yeah, I did that too on my first go. It felt like I was prepping for a NASA launch, not just painting some window trim. By the second window, I realized taping only where it actually mattered (like the corners and those weird wavy spots) saved my sanity. I still ended up with a few “oops” moments, but nothing a little touch-up paint couldn’t fix.
About the caulk—totally agree. I tried to squeeze out the last bit from a tube I found in the basement (probably older than my house), and it came out looking like cottage cheese. Not a good look. Now I always check the date or just buy a fresh tube if I’m unsure. A couple extra bucks is worth not having to redo the whole thing.
One thing I didn’t expect: how much dust and debris gets everywhere during install. I’d recommend laying down drop cloths or at least an old sheet, especially if you’ve got carpet. My living room looked like a construction site for a week and I’m still finding bits of old paint chips.
Also, if you’re dealing with older windows, don’t underestimate how stubborn those old frames can be. I thought I could just pop them out, but it turned into a wrestling match and I lost (well, my knuckles did). A pry bar and some patience go a long way.
Last thing—if you’re painting the new trim, I found that a small angled brush gives way more control than those foam pads or rollers. I made less mess and didn’t have to tape as much. Just takes a steady hand and a little caffeine.
It’s definitely one of those projects where you learn as you go. Still, every time I walk by the finished windows, I feel a little proud—even if there’s a tiny caulk blob hiding in the corner.
Just takes a steady hand and a little caffeine.
I get what you mean about taping only the tricky spots, but honestly, I’m still Team Tape-Everything—at least for the first coat. I’ve got a pretty unsteady hand and every time I try to “wing it,” I end up with paint sneaking onto the glass or wall. Maybe it’s just me, but spending an extra 15 minutes taping saves me way more time on cleanup later.
Also, about the angled brush vs. foam pads—I actually prefer the pads for tight corners. They’re not perfect, but I feel like they help me avoid brush marks. Guess it depends on what you’re used to.
That dust though... no argument there. My dog was sneezing for a week after my last window project.
Taping everything really does make a difference, especially if you’re not super confident with a brush. I tried skipping it once, thinking I’d “just be careful,” and ended up spending way more time scraping dried paint off the glass than the taping would’ve taken. Maybe some folks have a steadier hand, but for me, that extra prep is worth it.
I’m with you on the foam pads, too. I used to swear by angled brushes, but the pads just seem to give a cleaner line in those awkward corners... less drama, fewer touch-ups. The dust, though—no getting around it. I still find little piles in odd places weeks later.
Taping’s a lifesaver, honestly. I’ve seen way too many folks try to “freehand it” and end up with paint smudges everywhere—it’s just not worth the cleanup. Foam pads are great, especially for tight spots, but I still keep an angled brush around for those weird trim profiles. And yeah, the dust is relentless. Even after vacuuming and wiping down, I’ll still spot a little pile behind a radiator or in the window tracks weeks later. Just comes with the territory, I guess.
I get where you’re coming from about taping, but honestly, after years of painting old trim in my 1950s place, I’ve found a steady hand and a good angled brush can actually save time—especially if the surface is primed right. Taping every edge just never worked for me, since paint always seemed to seep under anyway. And yeah, dust is the bane of my existence too... I swear, no matter how many times I clean, there’s always more hiding somewhere.
Funny, I’m the opposite—I tried skipping tape once and ended up with a wobbly mess, but I’ve got shaky hands so maybe that’s the difference. The dust thing is relentless, though. After our window install, I thought I’d cleaned it all up, but weeks later I was still finding sawdust in the weirdest spots... like inside light fixtures. I think old houses just generate their own dust supply.