Step By Step Process & Items Needed To Paint A Door To Look Like Wood
Faux bios is one of the best painting methods that can be applied to the door & will make the door look exactly like the wood. Using this method, homeowners can impersonate a regular wood grain on non-wood surfaces, from medium-density fiberboard to drywall. The most important thing about the faux bios is that the painter has complete authority over the color and the modification of the faux wood grain, so they can instruct how to add texture to the flat surfaces. Gather some of the required items first before going through the below-mentioned steps carefully in order to paint a door and make it look like wood:
Items Needed
- Painter's Tape & Sanding Block
- Finegrit Sandpaper & Microfiber Cloth
- Oil Based Primer & Natural Bristle Paintbrush
- Paint Roller & Paint Roller Covers
- Latex Paint (2 Shades) & Synthetic Bristle Brush
- Paint Mixing Jar, Clear Acrylic Glaze & Paint Pans
- Wood Grain Rocker & Paper Towels
Step By Step Process
- First of all, you need to prepare the working area for the painting process by covering the nearby area with the painter's tape. Also detach all the hardware parts including hinges, knobs, etc, to safeguard them from stray splatters. Place old newspaper below the working area to prevent the sanding debris as well as paint drops to get on floors and furnishings.
- If in case you are working on the engineered wood like MDF, particleboard, or plywood, then with the help of a sanding block smoothly sand the door surface. Sanding will help in abandoning any upright fibers in the board and level out any cracks. If you are sanding any already smooth surfaces like MDF, then start with 120 to 220 grit sandpaper and for coarser engineered woods, start with 60 to 100 grit sandpaper. Then with the help of a dry cloth cleanse the sanding dust once finished.
- For engineered wood, spread white primer to the whole surface with the help of a natural bristle brush or a paint roller. Some of the wood types like MDF be likely to absorb water as well as swell, and they are also vulnerable to enlarging or shrinking with changes in temperature. It is the best option to go for an oil-based primer for these wood types and cover both the top as well as the underside of the surface in order to help lessen warping. Allow the primer to dry wholly according to the manufacturer’s directions. If in case you begin with bare or painted drywall, then with the help of a paint roller spread a latex primer to the wall. Give the primer some time to dry completely according to the manufacturer’s directions.
- After the primer is dry, it is time to spread a base coat of paint that resembles wood. Select a low brightness latex paint that is exactly the same as the touch of the type of wood you want your door to impersonate. For instance, if in case you want the surface to be like mahogany, then go for coral or dark red. For lighter woods such as walnut or maple, choose gold or orange color. With the help of a synthetic bristle brush or paint roller, wrap the whole surface in the paint. As soon as the paint dries, spread a second coat and then give it some time to dry completely.
- Now, mix clear acrylic glaze with latex paint (equal parts) in a paint mixing jar. Select a latex paint that is the same, but darker than the base coat. Put back the cap on the jar and then shake the contents in order to produce a semi-transparent tinted glaze.
- Run the glaze into a paint pan, and then fill up a synthetic bristle brush or a roller with the glaze. Make sure to work in parts, 6 inches in width at one time, spread a thin layer of the glaze that holds out the entire height of the door surface.
- Now originate the faux wood grain in the original glaze. Place a wood grain rocker, a hand tool that produces a wood grain consistency on painted surfaces, at a top edge of the surface. Now steadily pull the rocker down in an upright direction, rocking the bent head of the tool from the top to the base through the wet glaze till you reach the opposite end of the surface. To alter the faux wood grain direction, overturn the rocker and pull it in the opposite direction. In order to make a variety with larger arches and straight grain, place a graining comb, a triangular tool with teeth that impersonates a grain surface, along the edge of the area you completed and drag the comb either straight down through the glaze or at a minute angle.
- With the help of a paper towel cleanse the varnish from the rocker as well as the comb. Now move to the next 6-inch swath of the surface, and repeat Steps 6 and 7. If in case of any mistake, you can re-glaze the distressed area and again apply the faux wood grain. Keep going with this process unless & until the faux wood grain takes care of the entire surface.
- Finally, give the glaze some time to dry completely. Put together any hardware on the door surface, and then relax & applaud your faux bois finish.