Doors are an often-neglected area, but a fresh coat of paint can transform these entrances and by extension shape the mood in the rooms they serve. Our easy to follow guide will turn you into a decorating machine as we show you how to paint a door in just a few steps.
Like all decorating, preparation is the most important step. First, clear an area near the door. Move any furniture out of the way and use an Essentials Polythene Dust Sheet or a Seriously Good Double Protection Dust Sheet to protect the floor. Tape the dust sheet down using some Seriously Good Masking Tape, this prevents the sheet moving around and makes everything less frustrating.
With the floor protected you can start preparing the wooden surface for painting. Sand the door down using Seriously Good Fine Sanding Block. As you sand use you hand to feel for rough areas which need more attention. You only need to remove the topmost layer of paint at this stage. If the paint on the door is very heavy take a look at our more in-depth guide, how to get a smooth finish with gloss paint.
When you have finished sanding the door use a Seriously Good Microfibre Cloth to remove the dust. To finish this step, add some Seriously Good UV Tape to protect the door handle and hinges. You’re now ready to paint!
First, we must add a primer to prevent any stains from sap, or other contaminants from coming through the wood and ruining the topcoat. Shake a new tin of primer vigorously then open and stir if necessary. Pour a small amount into a Large Handyhold then use the Taskmaster Round Gloss Brush to quickly paint any shaped areas in the door panels. When you finish painting these areas make sure to finish away from the corners, so you do not get a build-up of paint in those areas.
For the larger flat surfaces use a 4 inch roller fame, tray and 4-inch Gloss Roller Sleeve. If you have a panelled door paint the flat sections of panel first from left to right, top to bottom. Then paint the horizontal sections starting at the top and working down. Finally, finish by painting the long vertical sections starting with vertical furthest from the hinge and working your way in.
Leave the primer to dry and wash the brush in some white spirit, using some Seriously Good Paper Roll to remove as much paint as possible between soakings. This should clean the brush very quickly ready for the topcoat.
When the primer is dry you can take an optional step and lightly sand the door removing any minor imperfections from the priming stage, clean with a cloth and then apply the topcoat gloss, eggshell or satin paint using the same techniques as the previous step.
An optional final step is to use the Gloss Flat Brush with a very small amount of paint and very gently go over the large flat areas. This process is called laying off and although it takes some practice this is the way a skilled decorator will create a perfect glass like finish.
