how to do enamel paint touch ups?

John B
by John B
just rented a new place, and painted the walls just fine.(yes, land lord should have done that, but he was lazy and just gave me a nice discount of first months rent if i did it myself)
but some of the doorways and windows are painted with enamel paint - i have no experience with enamel paint.
what is it like to add a new coat like i did with the walls, vs just a bit of touch up with the dings.
any advise?
  6 answers
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Jul 22, 2012
    I've done some light sanding....then fill deeper chips with some filler...then sand again to even it back up. From there a little primer and paint....for minor areas I'll sometimes skip the primer.
  • John B John B on Jul 24, 2012
    Thank you for the suggestions but this doesn't answer my question because this is just regular paint instructions, but doesn't address the enamel part at all. Enamel isn't like normal paint, it is EXTREMELY sticky and leaves a gloss look - so how does this affect when just adding a bit to fix. Or is it just like normal paint and i am totally wrong? Instructions do not include any primer even when doing large areas.. ?? any differences in feathering to matching/blending coloring between enamel and regular paint? as the color matches, but after years of being on the wooden doorways/windows the color isn't quite the same so feathering it a bit would just make it so the touchups won't stand out. thanks though for trying KMS.
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Jul 24, 2012
    Historically "Enamel" paint meant oil based and glossy ...today the term also includes latex versions and "enamel" refers to a "hard surface paint"...this is why it is often used for trim. If your goal is a perfectly flat and smooth surface then some prep sanding is in order, as I mentioned above. The chipped area is sanded so the surface feathers out from the chip leaving no steep "edge". From there some oil based primer could be used to cover the bare area...once that is dry (which can take more time than a latex primer) the entire trim should be painted...If you have the exact paint from before spot painting may blend in well enough to not be noticeable. A quality brush and not over working it should allow the paint to "level" and therefore provide a smooth repair.
  • John B John B on Jul 24, 2012
    thx, will just give it a try :)
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Jul 24, 2012
    good luck...as with most painting projects...if you mess up they are not too hard to fix.
  • Peace Painting Co., Inc. Peace Painting Co., Inc. on Jul 24, 2012
    If you want to try touching-up, get a small sponge brush and carefully apply the smallest amount of paint only on top of the blemish. This way touch up marks are least likely to show.