#THE WAY THE WHITE DOOR HOW TO#
#THE WAY THE WHITE DOOR PROFESSIONAL#

These “sandwiched” pieces should be painted by dragging your brush horizontally (see diagram above.) There are header and footer panels sandwiched between the left and right sides. The grain on the two sides should go vertically from top to bottom. Pay attention to the direction of the wood grain for this last step. Keep your brush strokes horizontal (with the grain) and cross over the tall vertical center. Step 3: Next paint the horizontal cross pieces in the middle of the door. Then drag your brush up and down vertically with the wood grain (see arrows in the above diagram.) Start by rolling the paint on in an up and down direction. Step 2: Next, roll the inside center vertical piece. In other words: NEVER run your brush strokes perpendicular to the wood grain. Even if you have cheap hollow core doors, you can fake the look of a quality door by following the grain pattern. Original wood doors are made with several pieces and the wood grain changes direction. If you follow the grain and the direction of the arrows in the graphic above, you will maintain the look of the door construction.

#THE WAY THE WHITE DOOR PROFESSIONAL#

This is one of the most important tips for getting a professional look:įollow the grain direction when brushing on the paint Work quickly by rolling on the paint, then use a brush to smooth out the paint and fill in the detailed areas around the flat panel. Begin by rolling paint on the flat panels. Using a small roller to paint doors can greatly speed the process. Step 1: Paint the interior panels first as shown in the graphic below.

#THE WAY THE WHITE DOOR HOW TO#

Instructions for How to Paint Doors the Professional Way. Wipe off the door with a damp rag to remove any sawdust. The main goal is to give your door a little “tooth” for the new paint or primer to adhere to. Be sure to sand down any bumps or blemishes. No need to bust out the power sander, you can use a sanding block or sheet of sand paper. Whether you are removing the door or painting it in place, be sure to cover the area underneath with a drop cloth, newspapers, or flattened cardboard boxes (my favorite for hung doors because it gives some cushion when you are kneeling on the floor. I’ve painted plenty of doors without removing them, and they look great.

But, removing the door can also be a pain, especially if it’s a large solid wood door. Painting a door on sawhorses eliminates potential drips and is easier on your back. Then you can lay it horizontally on sawhorses. The easiest way to paint a door is to remove the door, then remove the knobs and latch. Lead paint (whether in good shape or not), you will need to prime.First, scrape or sand any flakes and then prime. (This was the case with my door, so I didn’t prime it.) If you are painting over latex with latex (or oil over oil) and the previous paint job is in good shape you can skip the primer. If the door was painted with oil and you want to use latex paint.

Dark painted doors you wish to paint lighter (or vice versa), you want to use a tinted-primer to cut down on coats.

But, here are a few more reasons you need to prime your door first: Wear a respirator and be sure to clean everything with disposable wet wipes.) When Do You Have to Prime?Īs we determined above, if your door was painted with oil-based paint (and you want to use latex paint) you will need to prime. Use a wet sanding block (never use a power sander). I go into more detail about lead paint in this tutorial.īut, the short of it is, if you have lead paint, you must be very careful when sanding it. You can easily test your door (or any paint) for the presence of lead by using a lead test swab. To test the paint, rub a small spot with rubbing alcohol (or ammonia) and if the paint comes off it is latex.

To determine if you need to prime your door you need to assess if your door was painted with latex or oil paint first. Optional: Painting Pyramids How to Test for Latex or Oil Paint? You can read more about affiliate links here. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. (I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. For the rest of us, get out your paper and pencils and take some notes (does anyone do this anymore?) Materials: If you have flat (non-panel) versions, you can skip this post and come back later. This tutorial pertains to any paneled door (interior or exterior). So you want to paint like a pro? Well, sit back and let me give you some tips and a tutorial for painting a door. How to Paint Doors (The Professional Way) Today I’ll to show you how to paint doors (the professional way) so they look amazing for years (or decades) to come. Many of us have been staring at the same walls and doors in our homes for many years (or maybe many decades.) If you’ve wanted to give your home an update, painting a door is a quick and easy way to do just that.

The way the white door