How to Paint 6 Panel Doors by numbers

Learn how to effectively paint a six panel door utilizing the stop-break method allowing you ample time to achieve a quality finish with difficult paints or colors.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2.5" angled brush
• paint
• can of water
• wet rag

1. 
   Follow these steps

   Let's take a look at the procedure for painting a 6 panel door before we get started so you understand the process in advance. This process will start by painting the panels first. View thumbnail image.

2. 
   Paint each area

   Start by painting the upper left panel #1 and keep the paint to a minimum outside the panel areas 9,10,11 and 14. Once the panel is complete, use a damp rag and trace carefully around the outer edge of the panel removing any paint from areas 9,10,11 and 14. It's not important to removal all overage, simply smooth or feather it with the damp rag.

3. Continue on painting each panel 1,2,3,4,5 and 6. At this point you can stop and take a break and allow the panels to dry or continue on to Step 4.

4. Paint areas 7,8 and 9 and as you move through areas 7,8,9 use a damp rag and wipe or smooth any paint that remains on 10,11,12,13.

5. Paint areas 10,11,12 and 13 being careful not to get too much paint on areas 14 and 15. Use the damp rag to smooth any overage.

6. Finish the door by painting areas 14 and 15. Congrats, you just completed a door by numbers using the stop-break method!

Tips & Warnings

• You can stop and break between each number if you wipe any overage in joining areas.
• Areas 1 through 6 can be completed, then stop break and do areas 7-14 all at once if you are comfortable with a paint brush.
• When painting the hinge and striker edge, use damp rag to remove unwanted paint in other areas.
• If you do not remove overage from any joining area, the paint may set-up and dry leaving undesired results. Paint the current area, clean the joining area, move on.
• All doors in any area should have all edges painted. You may need to remove a door and/or hinges to accomplish this.

Resources

• More tips on painting