Before you begin The actual work involved with painting a door amounts to three to five hours, depending upon the condition of the door and also how fussy you’re. But add in the drying time and it’s a project. So, if you’re painting a door you can’t live without like a tub room or exterior door–get started first thing in the morning it may be back in service by day’s end.
While you’re picking a paint color think about sheen: With a finish, scuff marks and handprints are hard to wipe out. High gloss is easy to clean but accentuates every little flaw, so your prep and paint job needs to be perfect. Satin and semigloss are great compromise selections. Additionally, check the operation of the door. If it rubs against the jamb or drags on the carpeting, now’s the time to sand or plane the borders. In case you’ve several doors which must paint, then start with the least prominent one. It’s better to make learning mistakes on the inside of a closet door than on your entry door. Read on for tips about how to paint a door.
CAUTION! In case your home was built before nineteen seventy-nine, then assess the paint for lead before you sand.
Prep hints The Best Way to Paint a Door Photo 1: Remove all the hardware Slice through paint buildup around hinges and latches. Otherwise, you may splinter wood as you remove hardware.
Experts paint doors set up. But from prep to painting, you’ll get better results if you remove the door. Working on your garage, shop or basement, you can control drying and light conditions better. And laying the door flat minimizes runs in the paint job. Here’s what to do after you remove the door:
Clean the door with a home cleaner. Any cleaner will do, so long as it cuts grease. Areas around doorknobs are predisposed towards greasy buildup. Remove all the door components to get a neater paint job and also save time. If you’re dealing with one or more door, avoid hardware mix-ups by labeling plastic bags that will hold the hardware for every door. Dents and holes with a sandable filler such as MH Ready Patch. You’ll likely have to fill scratches that are deep two to compensate for shrinkage. Remove old paint from the hardware. Start with a product intended to remove paint splatter like Goof Away Pro Power Remover or Goo Gone Painter’s Pal. You should use paint strippers, but they could also remove clear coatings from the hardware or damage some forms of finishes.