How to Refinish Bathroom Doors
You can bring new life to your bathroom doors with a little effort and a few layers of paint or stain. This do-it-yourself project can be completed in as little as a day, but may take two, depending on the drying time of your refinishing products. You don't need special skills to give your bathroom doors a make over, just remember to paint or stain in the direction of the wood grain with long, smooth strokes.
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Things You'll Need
- Two sawhorses
- Screw driver
- Orbital sander
- Medium and light grade sandpaper
- Bathroom primer and paint or stain
- Polyurethane
- Small paint roller or sponge
Instructions
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1
Set up a work surface. The door will need to be horizontal, level and elevated from the ground. The finish can puddle and cause build up if you refinish your bathroom or any door as it lies directly on the ground. Place two wooden sawhorses side by side so you can lay the door across them at a level elevation.
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2
Remove the bathroom door from the hinges. Slide and remove the hinge pin from the bottom hinge first, then from the top hinge. Remove the door and place it on your work surface.
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3
Remove all of the hardware from the door, including the doorknob.
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4
Sand the door on both sides with medium grade sandpaper. Using a rotary sander is much faster and easier than sanding by hand. Remove the sanding debris and sand the door again with light-grade sandpaper to remove the scratches left by the medium-grade paper. Remove all of the sanding debris with a damp cloth.
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5
Apply a coat of primer (if you plan to paint the door), or a layer of stain. You can find primer and paint that is specially formulated to resist moisture and mildew present in a bathroom environment. Let the primer or stain dry according to the manufacturer's directions. Flip the door over and repeat this step on the opposite side. Let the finish dry.
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6
Apply coat of paint to one side of the bathroom door. If you're staining, you may need to sand the door lightly and remove the debris between coats. Follow the directions on your staining product. Let the finish dry, then flip the door and repeat this step on the opposite side.
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7
Add as many layers of paint or stain as you need to achieve the finish you desire. Finish with a coat of polyurethane to seal and protect the door. Specially formulated bathroom paint may not need a layer of polyurethane for protection. Read and follow the instructions on whatever product you select.
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8
Reattach the hinges and door knob and re-hang your bathroom door.
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Tips & Warnings
You can polish the metal hardware for your bathroom door with a rotary tool like a Dremel to bring back the shine.
Always apply the finishing coats evenly to both sides of the door. If you refinish one side completely before flipping and refinishing the other side, your door could become warped from the coating.
