What Is the Best Way to Paint a Door – The Best Guide

What is the best way to paint a door? Bright white doors in a house are always the most beautiful effect, and there are several reasons to repaint them. They include:

• Doors have been yellowed by tobacco, or marked by time and kitchen fumes
• Children have drawn on the doors, confusing them with A4 paper
• You have opened and closed your doors several times with dirty hands, and these have stained the doors towards the handles
• Dogs or cats scratched the doors
• You are in the middle of a painting job, and you want to take the opportunity to bleach the doors

Whatever the reason, the procedure for repainting a door is the same, as are the paint and the necessary tools.

What Is the Best Way to Paint a Door?

Painting a door does not require any special skills. All you need to know is how to handle a roller, unhook a door (not mandatory), protect surfaces, choose a paint, and remove a door handle or even a recessed lock. Nothing very complex in short.

Completion Time

• 1 hour excluding drying time / 1 day including drying time

Number of Persons

• 1 person

Stages of Implementation

• To open or close the door
• Preparing the door before applying paint
• Apply paint to the door
• Finishing and site cleaning

Tools and Consumables

• Sanding paper
• Relamping brush
• Roller, 120 mm maximum
• Paint tray
• Protective tarp
• Masking tape
• Trestle (optional)
• Gloves

1. To Open or Close The Door

First, unbolt the door.

To remove a door, simply place it perpendicular to its frame and gently lift it up. You can use a crowbar for leverage. Moreover, some doors are difficult to get off their hinges and if possible, get help to avoid a twist!

Once you remove the door, place it on two trestles, taking care to protect them with a cloth or cardboard. Remember you do not want to damage the back of your door.

Then, open the door between 45° and 90°, and place a tarpaulin or newspapers under the door. Place a wedge under the door to prevent it from moving while you are working.

2. Prepare the Door before Applying the Paint

This is an important step to ensure that your paint remains in good condition. Depending on the condition of the door, the preparation will be different. Remove the handles to ensure the finish is clear. Furthermore, take care to protect them once you dismantle them, and cover the walls with masking tape.

Preparing a Rough Wooden Door

A light sanding is necessary, to remove all the wood fibers that come up. In addition, this sanding allows the door to be cleaned of any dirt or stains.

Then, brush and dust the door thoroughly.

The next step is to apply a special wood or universal undercoat to saturate the surface and give it a better grip.

Preparing a Stained or Varnished Wooden Door

If the current paint flakes, you will have to go through the stripping stage because painting a surface that just wants to leave is useless. On the other hand, if the coating adheres perfectly, a scratching and cleaning will suffice.

Then, you can choose to apply a universal undercoat. On the other hand, you can opt for a renovation paint. This can be a water-based paint, resin, or teflon-filled paint that allows you to repaint on a solvent coating, or a glycerophthalic paint.

Preparing a Pre-Painted Door

Pre-painted doors are the most common doors in newer houses, and they have the advantage of combining insulation and lightness. All you have to do is clean the door and apply the paint directly.

3. What Is the Best Way to Paint a Door – Apply Paint to the Door

First, once you protect the wall with masking tape, paint the door frame with an 18 to 25-diameter paintbrush.

You can use a flat brush, but not too wide because it spreads like a fan when you press too much on it, which is a risk for possible overflows.

Start at the top and work your way down to the ground, going back and forth. Do not try to stretch the paint too much. Keep in mind that the more you pull on it, the more you will notice the brush marks.

Allow time to dry before applying the second coat.

To paint the door, use a roller

If your door is molded, start by painting this part with a paintbrush.

Then, paint the edges before the entire door.

Further, roll the roller over the entire door, starting at the top. Do not pull the roller too much. Wanting to make the maximum surface area with the amount of paint on the roller is a mistake. You must find the right balance, and apply a generous coat but not too much to avoid drips.

Let it dry.

Before applying the second coat, check the finish of the first coat: if it is clean, you can paint. If you find that you can see too much brush or roller marks, make a light scratch to even out the paint.

4. Finishing and Site Cleaning

Remove the masking tape before the paint is too dry.

You should then allow the paint to dry completely.

Then, reassemble the door handles.

Clean the tools, and store the paint and equipment.

Finally, clean the work area, and dispose of waste.

To complete the decoration, do not hesitate to change the door handles to give your interior a new look!