Door Paint DIY: How to paint a door

How to paint a door – DIY Guide

If you ever wondered how to paint a door the right way, you might know that it is not only the paint you choose to paint your door, that make all the difference. It is also person using paint and brush, that can make or brake the door painting job.

If you want to paint a door the right way, at the right time, and cannot decide what paint to use for a door, we help you with this step-by-step guide on door painting.


Paint the door: Don’t worry, paint happy

There are many reasons to paint a door. Door painting enthousiasts think any reason is the right reason to paint a door. Because, you have to admit: Door painting is fun, too!

Perhaps you cannot stand the color of your bedroom anymore, the front door needs redoing from all the damage UK weather can cause, or you feel the season needs the accompanied by an appropriate color to match the mood.


Buy paint, paint door

In this guide, we talk about which wood paint to buy, brushes, and how to paint your door. Painting doors involves preparation, painting, and finishing up. Let’s have a look at paint for your door first:

Rust-Oleum Ultra Cover
Rust-Oleum Ultra Cover
  • WATER-BASED
  • INTERIOR/EXTERIOR
Modern Masters Front Door Paint
Modern Masters Front Door Paint
  • WATER-BASED
  • EXTERIOR
RTG Front Door Paint
RTG Front Door Paint
  • WATER-BASED
  • EXTERIOR
Rust-Oleum Door Paint
Rust-Oleum Door Paint
  • OIL-BASED
  • INTERIOR/EXTERIOR
Kilz Siding, Fence, and Barn Paint
Kilz Siding, Fence, and Barn Paint
  • OIL-BASED
  • EXTERIOR

Step-by-step Guide on Painting doors

Let’s say your door has a layer of paint on it, and you want a change of color to transform the house, a room or the whole interior of your home, you will need to know how to do that without regrets.

We show you what you need to paint any door in your home – let it be interior and exterior doors.

Tools and Preparation for door the painting job

Let’s start with the needed tools preparations before getting your paint brush wet.

  • Sanding paper/ sanding pad
  • Undercoat compatible with wood, and the following gloss paint
  • Gloss paint compatible with wood, and undercoat (wood gloss)
  • Flat paint brush
    • if Water-based paint (Acrylic paint, latex paint) → paint brush with synthetic (nylon, polyester, polypropylene) bristles to reduce brush lines
    • if Solvent-based paint (Alkyd and oil-based paint) → paint brush with natural (animal hair) bristles
  • Foam roller + roller tray
  • Masking tape
  • Cardboard
  • White Spirit and cloth
  • If necessary: Wood filler/ Wood putty

Preparations of door and surroundings

  1. Remove all the door fittings like door knob, letter plate etc. with screwdriver.
  2. Sand down the door thouroughly with sanding paper/sanding pad/ electric sanding tool, so that the paint will be able to adhere properly. Doors in good condition: 240 grit; doors with flaking paint need 120 grit sandpaper.
  3. If the door has cracks to be filled and smoothed out, now is the time to fix those with wood filler, putty knife and sanding paper.
  4. Remove all the dust with brush and/or vaccum cleaner.
  5. Now that the door is free of dust, wipe the door a cloth and white spirit to make. This is to get rid of residues of oil and grease.
  6. Mask off any areas you don’t want paint on, like remaining fittings and glass panel.
  7. Lay out the cardboard under the door. This prevents paint drops from ruining the floor.
  8. Leave the door half-open and block it with a door stop that goes under the door. This makes painting the door easy, and you don’t have to touch it while painting the door.

Paint the door like a pro

Finally, you can get the paint buckets and brush out and start the metamorphose of your door. Follow these steps, and your will feel like a door painting master:

  1. Shake and stir the undercoat well.
  2. Use your paint brush to cut in around edges and mouldings of the door.
  3. To paint the remaining areas of the door, fill an appropriate amount of undercoat pain the in the tray and wet the foam roller with it.
  4. Start to paint the rest of the door from the inside towards the outside, moving vertically and horizontally.
  5. Leave the undercoat paint to dry for the time indicated on the tin.
  6. Sand the dried undercoat sightly with a finer sanding paper so that the whole finish appears flat. Remove the sanding dust afterwards.
  7. Fetch the flat brush and the wood gloss paint tin in your chosen color and stir it well.
  8. Use a new flat brush and use the same applying technique as earlier: start brushing on edges, roll the rest of the door, and leave to dry. Do not close the door
  9. Apply another coat of gloss if needed.

Finishing up

  1. After the paint has dried completey, check the door for flaws that might need redoing.
  2. Remove the masking tape.
  3. If you are satisfied with the result, pull the screw driver and screw on all the fittings and fixtures you removed earlier.

Tips:

  • Use thin layers of paint rather than one thick one. It will otherwise crack later, drip immediatley and look ugly.
  • Windy days are no good painting days, as they fill the air with dust, and yo don’t want dust on fresh paint.
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