Things You'll Need:
- A good 2" flat paint brush
- A 1" flat paint brush
- Masking tape
- A piece of cardboard or toweling for the floor
- Wooden shims
- Vacuum cleaner with small brush attachment
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Step 1
Make sure the door has been sanded and/or primed if needed before you start. Prepare to paint by pushing cardboard under the door and putting shims (small wedge shaped pieces of wood) in the hinged crack of the door to keep it open. Tape up the doorknob, any hardware and glass inserts. Clean the hinges with alcohol or ammonia and paint them with rubber cement--it peels off neatly when the job's done.
For any type of door, start by painting the frame (casing), working up from the inside bottom, across the header and down the striker side. -
Step 2
Begin by painting the frame, going from the bottom up because it's easier to catch drips. Paint up one side and up the other and then across the top of the frame.
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Step 3
Paint in the panels first, taking care with any moldings. Start with the upper left hand panel and move left to right, then do the bottom panels the same way. Next, paint the vertical pieces (stiles) between the panels, painting from the bottom up.
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Step 4
Paint the three horizontal sections next, working from left to right. Start with the top one and work your way down. Next paint the two long vertical stiles at the outside edges of the door. Paint the edges of the door last.
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Step 5
Allow the paint to dry thoroughly. Each paint will specify the drying time on the can. Sand lightly if a second coat is needed. Use the soft bristle brush of the vacuum to make sure all the dust is gone before you paint again. Follow the same steps for the second coat and your professional paint job is finished.
