Preprimed Trim? What The?

JohnDucan

I normally don't do much trim but I was going to do a job for a builder friend and would be also handling the trim.

Went over to check it out today, all preprimed mdf trim. I have no idea where they got this stuff, but it was the most awful looking trim ever. It looked like it was primed with drywall compound, all built up. Not smooth at all. If he thinks I'm going to go around and sand it all down, hes nuts. Everything around the details is just caked and looks awful.

I tested on a small section, it doesn’t sand like paint either. Least no paint ive sanded. It comes off like drywall compound too. Anyone seen this junk before? Why on earth would anyone buy it to send up having to send it back down to wood and prime again???? What am I missing???

I don't even know what to tell the guy, it would be cheaper to rip it all down and install decent stuff than to pay to go around the entire house and sand every inch of this crap I would think.

ProWallGuy

I would tell him exactly what you said right here:

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Richard

I agree with PWG too, tell him.

Also another big thing I learned this year(semi-related topic) is pre-primed exterior clapboard needs to be primed The primer the factory applies is temporary. Kind of pointless...Thought I'd share, did'nt know till recently...

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Rich

camaroman2125

When I do enamel, I always reprime the trim even if it comes preprimed.

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JohnDucan

I told him from the start before I saw it that I would prime it anyway, I just wasn't expecting a mess from the primer. Thought at worst id run over it real quick with some sandpaper before the primer. This stuff you could spend an hour on the trim around one door. It's hard to explain what it looks like without seeing it.

Thest best way I can describe it is drywall compound being slopped on, and when it dried it kind of shrunk and got funky. Not like that on 100% of it, but it really is not pretty..

The guys who installed it should be beat.

MAC2PAINTING

I was wondering if the trim package is on the wall yet? If so .. i definetly agree with the other guys, but if you are still dealing with
bundles i wouldn't say much about it to your friend,except to warn him about the sloppy primer, and advise him to tell his carpenters to cut off the bad ends... wouldn't want to lose either a friend or future costomer

Richard

NO! The guys who primed it should be shot....

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Rich

d.janvrin

Hi John
Had Some up Here Last winter There abouts, Looked like the stuff was Dipped in latex primer then stacked up right before dried, Had Runs ,Ridges, Finger Prints Etc ,Unbeliveable..
Rejected all 8300 lin ft, Came from Big Name Lumber Yard In This Area.
The lumber Yard No Longer Uses That suppler. (Said It Was Bad Batch ) I Personally Would Waste My Time With It.
Good Luck

Mike Finley

I see that on primed MDF every once in a while, it's up to me to cull it out. Why would I install something that is screwed up. Somebody before you should have had the sense to cull it.