How to Paint Raised Panel Doors

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By Granath Color Works
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Raised panel door

Raised panel doors are beautiful additions to any home and look best when painted correctly. The following will show how to paint the raised panel door so that the beauty is enhanced.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Fine sandpaper
Tack cloth
Primer
Enamel underbody
Enamel
Quality paint brush
Painters Putty
Thinner (if using oil-base)
Penetrol (if using oil-base)
Extender (if using latex)

Step 1

The preparation for painting a raised panel door will vary depending on what you are starting with. The following will address the different preparations and lead you to the finishing steps for painting the door. (If the door can be removed and painted horizontally on a bench, all the better. If not, it can be painted in place and should be done in the open position...you will just need to be more mindful of "runs" from the corners of the panels)

In all cases, remove the hardware (or mask it off if you can't remove it).
Step 2

Tack cloth

PREVIOUSLY PAINTED: If the raised panel door has been previously painted, examine the finish. If it was painted with a roller (look for an "orange peel" type texture), then sand, sand, sand! The proper finish of raised panel doors is with a brush and the roller texture detracts from the beauty. Once you have completely sanded the door so the orange peel is either gone or less noticeable, clean it with a vacuum and then with a tack cloth. Fill any holes with painters putty, sand smooth, and proceed to step 4.
Step 3

NEW DOORS: Ahhhh the joy of it! You have the opportunity to paint the doors right the first time! Sand the entire surface (with the grain) using the fine sandpaper. Vacuum the entire surface and then use a tack cloth to remove any remaining dust. Apply a coat of primer/sealer to the entire surface with a quality brush. (Decide now if you will be using oil or latex paint and stay with that throughout...Oil will give the best look, but is a little more difficult to work with.) Working from the top down, paint the panels first and then the stiles (the "rails" that hold the panels together). Final strokes must be "with the grain" in direction and check for runs from the corners of the panels.

Allow to dry thoroughly then sand, vacuum, and tack again.
Step 4

Enamel Underbody

Enamel Underbody (specially formulated "primer" for use under enamel) is next in the process. It should be applied by brush and thinned at a rate of 1 part thinner to 8 parts paint (paint thinner for oil-base and water for latex). Paint in the following order working from the top down and brushing with the grain: 1) paint the panels 2) paint the stiles (vertical and horizontal rails of the door) 3) paint the edge (each door has 2 edges...1 matches each face..stand inside the room and see which edge you see with the door open) 4) paint the frame.

Allow to dry thoroughly and sand, vacuum, and tack all surfaces of the raised panel door.
Step 5

Penetrol paint conditioner

Now you are ready to apply the finish paint. It should be 2 coats of enamel (the level of shine is a matter of taste and enamel is made in several finishes). The enamel should be thinned at a rate of about 1 part thinner to 6 parts paint and the method and order of application is exactly as it was for the underbody in the previous step. If using oil-base, thin with Penetrol, which is a high-quality paint thinner and conditioner. If using latex, thin with a quality paint extender. Using water or paint thinner in the finish coats will work, but compromises the integrity of the enamel.

As before, allow the first coat to dry thoroughly and then sand, vacuum, and tack the surface before applying the final coat. The finish on your raised panel door will last for years!