Painting doors can intimidate homeowners who have had bad experiences with paint runs and drips. But you can achieve a beautiful, smooth paint finish on either flat or raised-panel doors by learning and following a few basic techniques. Use semigloss paint, either latex or oil, to paint the doors; this type of paint holds up well and is easy to clean.
Painting Doors with Raised Panels
Place a layer of plastic or cardboard on the floor beneath the door to protect flooring. Remove the door handles from the door. Cover the hinges with painters tape or a light layer of Vaseline.
On previously painted doors, check for loose and flaking paint. Scrape off any loose or flaking paint and sand smooth. If the scraping and sanding leaves bare wood showing, a coat of primer is necessary. If the paint is still firmly adhered, the door will only require a light sanding to scuff the paint and ensure that the new paint will adhere properly. Clean all sanding dust off the door with tack rags.
If the door is unpainted, lightly sand it and clean off all sanding dust with a tack rag. Unpainted doors will require a primer for the type of paint to be used. Work quickly with the primer, as it dries very fast and will leave brush marks. Apply the primer to the panels first, then prime the center stile (the raised vertical section of the door). Prime the rails, which are the raised flat sections above and between the panels that go across the door. Prime the side stiles and the door edges last. Allow the primer to dry the length of time recommended by the manufacturer.
Apply the finish paint to the door in the same sequence given for priming. Do not shut the door for 24 hours or the new paint may stick to the doorjambs.
Painting Smooth Doors
The sanding procedures for smooth doors are the same as for the raised-panel doors. Smooth doors take less time to prime and paint. The quickest way to paint smooth doors is with a foam paint roller, which will leave a smooth finish. Finish the door edges with a brush. Do not overload the roller with paint or it may leave marks on the door surface. Do not close the door for 24 hours to avoid marring the paint where it contacts the doorjambs.
Spraying Paint on Doors
A paint sprayer is an option for applying paint to both raised-panel and smooth doors. Remove the doors and spray the paint in a garage or other area where overspray can be contained.
Related posts
Brass fireplace doors can be painted in almost any color you wish.Whether your brass fireplace doors have become dingy and tarnished, or you're just ready for a change, painting them is a fairly s...
Prepare and paint metal outside doors, so the paint does not chip, peel and fall off the doors.When a person adds a fresh coat of paint on exterior doors, it dresses up the look of any house. Prep...
Painted cabinets add character to a home.Cabinets add character to any room in the house, whether you want to spice up your kitchen, bathroom or living room. Cabinets also add more storage space t...
Remove chipped paintwork and prepare the door thoroughly before applying primer and paint.You may not notice the chipped paintwork on one of the doors in your home. However, you can bet it will be...
Steel storm doors are typically hollow-core steel around a foam core. The steel provides strength and durability, while the foam core has insulating properties for energy efficiency. They usually...
