Painting wooden interior doors DIY

The best way to breathe life into new wooden doors is to paint it. Or even if you want to renew an old slab that still served your great-grandfather and grandmother. You have all the abilities to decide, because painting interior doors is very simple. The main thing is to prepare for this process – purchase the necessary materials and follow the technology. This article will help you with this. It will tell you how to complete all the stages correctly. So that the result of your efforts will please you for a long time.

Paint Choice

There are many options for paints, enamels, varnishes and primers on the market. If you need to hide the surface of the door, choose paints with a dense color texture. If, on the contrary, emphasize the grace and sophistication of the natural wood pattern, choose transparent varnishes and tint compositions accordingly. They will give a light shade of antiquity or accentuate the freshness of the tree species.

There are varnishes and paints that are water based (they are odorless) and chemical based (you recognize them by their harsh “scent”). Chemical compositions have increased moisture resistance. 

Attention: when working with paint – look through the safety precautions. Paint in a well-ventilated area. Otherwise, there is a risk of severe poisoning.

Water-based paints will not give you such an inconvenience. They are not toxic. The coating will be smooth even when applied with a brush. They are often used for home doors that will not come into contact with an aggressive natural climate.

Removing an old paint

The final staining result depends on the quality of the preparatory work. The first step, of course, is to remove the old coating. We act carefully and efficiently. Try one of these methods.

• Manual

The toughest and the hardest way. It should only be contacted as a last resort when other methods have failed. If the old door is covered with veneer, this method cannot be used. Scrapers, spatulas, grinders with a grinding attachment, sandpaper are used. In general, it is clear that we are acting forcefully, removing the firmly seated remnants of the old coating. 

• Sandblasting

It is also an aggressive method. It is less labor intensive and more efficient. But you may use it only if absolutely necessary. Sandblasting is a jet of air mixed with sand. With a strong pressure, the jet “eats” everything that gets in its way. Removing an old paint in will be quick enough. We recommend using it when the door will later be painted in opaque paints. In this case, the resulting pits and irregularities can simply be filled with the new paint. And such adjustments will not be noticeable under it.

• Heat air/guns

The method is time consuming and requires your patience. It gently cleans the surface without disturbing its structure. Use a construction hairdryer or a special heat gun and blow hot air to the desired area. Old paint will soften and can be removed with a regular scraper.

• Chemical solvents

It is understood that a solvent is required for this process. Apply it for 10-15 minutes and then remove it effortlessly with a scraper. Observe safety precautions. There will be a lot of toxic fumes, which means that you should only work with it in a well-ventilated room. This method is suitable for veneering. But the solvent must be selected specifically for this material.

Preparing the surface for painting interior doors

The preparation for removing the old coating does not end there. After this step, follow the instructions below.

1. Grinding

At this stage, you prepare the finish, perfectly flat surface. Small roughness, burrs, small paint residues are removed. To do this, use sandpaper sheet with a grain size of P180 or higher. The higher the indicator, the finer the abrasive.

• Putty

Choose the filler depending on the end goal. If you are planning a transparent coating, the color of the putty should blend in with the coating. If the staining is dense, there are no selection criteria. Choose any.

• Finishing sanding

First sand the surface with 180 grit sandpaper. Further finishing is carried out with P400 or P600 abrasives.

• Primer application

To prevent the wood material from absorbing all the paint, it is necessary to cover the door with primer. The paint will lay on it more evenly and will keep in its original form for longer.

After you remove the old coating, you can expect an unpleasant surprise in the form of dark spots. You can bleach them with chlorine. 

Let’s start painting

It is important to remember that along with the door you will have to paint the door frame. In order for the entire door assembly to look harmonious. There are two ways to do staining.

• In a horizontal position (recommended).
• In an upright position without removing the door from the hinges.

It is more convenient to do this, of course, in the “lying” position. In addition, staining in this way will be of better quality. Smooth and without streaks.

Paint application

There are several ways to paint a door. Every method matches the particular type of door. We will give you our recommendations, and you can choose the best option for yourself.

Flat door

The best tool for this type of staining is a roller. Start at the ends of the door slab. Then go to the center. Paint vertically first. On the second coat, after the door is dry, choose a horizontal application. The last step is to repeat the painting along the ends and faces in the vertical direction.  

Door with panels and patterns

For this type, it is better to arm yourself with a brush. Since it will not work to paint over all the protrusions with a roller. Start from the ends of the door, then all the curly elements, and paint the main face of the door according to the scheme described above. 

Artificial aging effect

You will need a wood stain for this effect. The shade of the patina can be easily adjusted by the concentration of this composition. Start painting according to the standard method: vertically – horizontally – vertically. After that, lightly sand the slab and apply another layer.

Simulating woody texture

To do this, take two enamel colors. Dark and light, you can define the combination for yourself. One of the standard options is yellow and beige paint. Apply light enamel in the first layer. After the product is dry, treat the surface with soapy water. Apply a second coat of paint in a second color – dark. After drying, wash off the soapy water with a damp cloth. Rinse off until the effect is complete. If you have a solid wood door or veneer, use a soft bristled brush.

Applying clear varnish

Painting with varnish is no different from painting with colored enamel. You only need to prepare the surface of the door well so that it is beautiful, without stains and wood defects. If you want to change the shade of the wood to a darker one, use a wood stain. And then fix the result with two layers of varnish.

Let’s summarize

There is nothing difficult about painting a door. The main thing is to follow the algorithm of actions, the technique of application and maintain the time so that the layers of paint dry well. Otherwise, no one limits you in creativity. Realize your wildest ideas and paint the door of your dreams. It will already be designer and unique. And in our time it is very much appreciated.