How to Paint a Door

A door is likely to be the first thing you see when you enter a room, so it should look nice. Painting a door is easier than painting an entire room, but as with any good job, quality is in the details.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Angled Paintbrushes
• Masking Tape
• Paint Trays
• Paints
• Body Compounds
• Primer Paints
• Primers
• Ladders
• Putty
• Putty Knives
• Sandpaper
• Screwdriver Sets
• Paint trays

1. Remove or tape over the doorknob, the strike bolt and the hinges.

2. Take the door off its hinges and lay it across two sawhorses or a table to paint. (You can paint it as it hangs, but you get a better effect if you take it off its hinges.)

3. Check for cracks and holes, and fill with putty. For really big problems (like a hole where a security lock once went), fill with an epoxy filler (such as Bondo brand) - the same stuff that's used on car bodies.

4. Apply a coat of primer if you're down to a raw surface. Allow to dry.

5. Apply one or two coats (depending on how well it covers) of semigloss or glossy paint; they're the most durable and easiest to clean.

6. Paint in even strokes with a high-quality brush, perhaps one with a tapered end.

Tips & Warnings

• Paint the jambs (the area the door closes into) first, the trim around the door next, and the door itself last.

• If you have a drip of paint that gets too dry to spread, let it dry all the way, then sand it down and paint over it.

• On exterior doors, be sure to paint the top and bottom edges, even though you can't see them. This will help protect against rot and swelling.

• Don't use a roller on a door, even if it's perfectly flat. It's just not a good look.

• Avoid loading up too much paint on your paintbrush, or it will collect in the door's details, puddle up and perhaps drip.