Do I need to resand or reprime my trim after just painting it? The color is not right.

by Robert
(Fresno, CA)

I just sanded and primed my trim; 3 coats of primer then at least 2 coats of semi gloss white latex paint. The white is not white enough, so I want to put a new white over it. The paint has been on the trim about 1 week.

Answer

Most certainly you can paint over your existing paint without having to sand or prime. You've already done the hard work. The only problem I can foresee is with having the new "whiter" paint cover in one coat. The whiter the paint is the less tint in actually in the paint. Plus semi-gloss paints won't cover as well as flat or satin sheen paint.

One way of helping your new paint cover better is to have the paint store put a shot of white tint into the formula. This could change the color a bit, so talk to the sales person first. Another way is to apply a coat of exterior flat first, tinted to your new white. Then paint another coat with the semi-gloss.

Test the new white first before going through the trouble of painting with a flat first.