Part of painting any rooms inside your house involves painting “the dreaded doors”. Wooden doors can be particularly difficult to paint, especially if they’re the paneled type. But, if you use a few tricks of the trade, you can add a new coat of color to them quickly and easily. Read this informative article and learn some tips on how to paint interior house doors like a professional!
Tip #1 – Repair the Interior Door First
The first thing to do, while the wooden door is still hanging, is to check it for needed repairs, such as wide cracks, holes or deep dents. Use a good-quality wood putty to fix the door. (Read and follow the directions on the container to achieve the best results.) Don’t forget to check around the door frame and repair any problems you find there.
Repair the interior door first while it’s still hanging, and you’ll be able to reach both sides easily.
Tip #2 – Remove the Interior Door
Some people leave a door up on its hinges to paint it, while others would rather paint a door horizontally. Here’s a tip that professionals use: removing a door from its frame and laying it across two saw horses makes painting it easier. Why? There are several reasons: 1) The paint is less apt to drip and run; 2) You can reach all sides of the interior door without crawling up a ladder; 3) You’ll have complete access to the frame without having the door in the way.
Tip #3 – Wash Dirt and Grime Off the Door
If the wooden door you’re going to paint is real dirty, then use a powerful commercial cleaner like Mr. Clean® or Top Job® to remove the grime first. Mix up a strong solution of the cleaner in a bucket of water; wash, then rinse the surface thoroughly and allow it to air dry.
Tip #4 – Tape Off Door Knobs and Hinges
Another tip on how to paint interior house doors like a professional is to use Painter’s Tape, instead of plain masking tape, to tape off door knobs, hinges and other hardware. Painter’s Tape comes off easier once you’re done painting. It won’t come off in pieces or leave a sticky residue like masking tape can.
Tip #5- Prep the Interior Door and Frame
No matter what type of finish is on the wooden door, it’s going to need “prepped” first. All surfaces need to be lightly sanded with fine paper so the paint will adhere to it better. After the sanding is done, brush the wood off well with a small broom or brush. Then, mix up an eighth of a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid in a bucket with three quarts of warm water. Dip a soft, clean cloth into the bucket and wring it out well. Wipe the wood dust off the door, the frame and the jambs thoroughly; rinse and wring your cloth out as needed. Then, rinse the door and the frame with clean water and allow it to air dry.
Tip #6 – Use a Primer On Unpainted or Darker Wood Surfaces
If you’re painting unfinished wood, or, if the door is already painted, but it’s a darker color than the new paint, then you’ll need to put a coat of paint primer on the wood first before you paint. Primer seals raw wood and it also helps cover a darker color when you’re going to paint it lighter. Read and follow the instructions on the container to achieve the best results.
Tip #7 – Paint the Connecting Parts First
Another tip on how to paint interior house doors like a professional is to paint the door frame, the jambs and the edges of the door first. Then, paint both sides of the door. That way, the connecting parts of the door where they meet – the door edges and the jambs, in particular- will have more time to dry so they won’t stick together.
Tip #8 – To Paint A Paneled Wooden, Interior Door
You can use a roller to quickly and easily paint a solid, flat door. To paint a paneled door, though, use a small brush and start inside the panels. Then, finish the door with a roller and allow the first coat to dry before applying a second coat of paint.
