What grit sandpaper should I use between coats of paint on trim and cabinets?

For sanding between coats of paint on trim and cabinets, 220-grit sandpaper is the standard — it is fine enough to smooth without cutting through the paint layer. This step is what separates a truly smooth professional finish from one that looks slightly rough when you look at it from an angle in raking light.

The purpose of sanding between coats is not to remove the previous coat — it is to knock down any raised grain, dust nibs, brush marks, or minor drips that dried in the first coat. When you apply paint to wood, the moisture in the paint raises the grain slightly, creating a rough feel even on previously smooth surfaces. A light pass with 220-grit levels these without removing the paint underneath. Always sand with the grain of the wood on bare or stained wood surfaces.

After sanding, wipe the surface thoroughly with a tack cloth or a lint-free cloth dampened with water (for latex paints) to remove every bit of sanding dust. This step is non-negotiable — even fine sanding dust trapped under the topcoat will create a gritty, dull finish. In NB's dry winter heating season (when indoor humidity drops to 20-30%), dust is more airborne and clings to surfaces, so be especially thorough with the tack cloth wipe-down.

For cabinet painting specifically, the grit progression matters more. On raw or stripped cabinets, start with 120-grit to smooth the surface, then 150-grit to refine, then 220-grit as your pre-prime sand. Between the primer coat and first paint coat, use 220-grit. Between the first and second paint coats, go even finer — 320-grit or 400-grit gives the silkiest result before the final topcoat. For spray-applied cabinet finishes (which professional painters in NB prefer for cabinets), 320-grit between coats is standard.

For trim and door painting with a brush, 220-grit between coats is sufficient. Use a sanding sponge or a small sanding block — these conform to moulding profiles better than a flat sheet of sandpaper. Avoid power sanders on detailed trim as they remove too much material too quickly. On flat panel doors, a random-orbit sander on a very light setting with 220-grit works well for large flat areas, but use hand sanding in the recesses and edges.

One thing NB homeowners often overlook: if you are painting over old, heavily built-up gloss trim (common in older homes in Saint John and Fredericton's heritage neighbourhoods), start with 150-grit to break the gloss and provide tooth for the primer, then move up to 220-grit after priming. Glossy surfaces without sanding are a primary cause of adhesion failure in trim painting.

If you are refinishing kitchen cabinets and want a truly flawless result, professional painters with spray equipment and a dedicated spray booth environment will get closer to a factory finish than most DIY brush-and-roll approaches can achieve. Browse painting contractors through the New Brunswick Construction Network directory to find cabinet refinishing specialists in your area.

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