How To Paint A Interior Door: Three Easy Steps & Items Needed

Three Easy Steps & Items Needed To Paint A Interior Door

The interior door lives long because the lifespan of this door is near about 25-30 years if you take proper care of it but if your interior door looks old and boring then you can give new life and look to your door and also extend the lifespan of your door. Refining and painting is the best way to give a new look and life to your old interior door, to do this you just need to collect all the given items and then follow all the given steps to get the best result of your precious time and hard work. Here is the list of required items and steps for this process:

Things You Will Need

• Rubber Gloves & Fresh Sponges
• Drop Cloths & Rags
• Fine-Grit Sandpaper & Paint
• TSP (if you need it) & Paintbrush
• Primer (if you need it) & Paint Tray
• Roller

Step I- Removing And Cleaning Your Door

1. First of all, clean your working area where you want to paint your door. Sweep your floors & be sure that any dust and dirt are gone because the dust will stick on the paint and will ruin your paint job. Always try to work in a well- ventilated area. Put your drop cloths or the cardboard on your floor to protect it from paint stains.
2. After that, get rid of the door from your wall. Take the help of someone to hold your door while you remove the door hinge pins by using your flat screwdriver by pressing up gently & unscrew all the hinges with your screwdriver or drill. Place your door on the sawhorses or on your floor.
3. Leave your door on its hinges if the door is flat. You can also leave your paneled door on the hinges because it may result in more paint flows than laying your door flat. Leave the door on its hinges to paint both sides of your door at once, alternatively waiting it to dry & then flipping it.
4. Now clean your door by using a liquid de-glosser and a rag. If your door is very greasy, dusty, and dirty then the paint won't stick well. Focus exclusively on cleaning around your doorknob. After you’ve wiped down your door, wipe it dry by using a clean rag.
5. Next you need to protect your door hinges & knobs. You can also remove or cover them by using your rubber cement or tape. Be sure that you keep your screws with the fixtures you have removed in a safe place because you will need them later.

Step II- Sanding & Priming

1. First of all, you need to determine if your door is painted with oil-based or the latex paint. Simply rub a little rubbing alcohol onto your door, if the applied paint comes off then it is latex. If the paint is latex then you can skip the sanding & priming steps, but if the paint is oil-based then follow the sanding and priming steps.
2. Sand your door softly by using sandpaper(fine-grit) or a sanding block but do not use a power sander. Be sure to sand your entire door to create a smooth & even surface. Remove any sawdust by using your a damp rag.
3. Now you need to paint your door with an oil-based primer. Paint the counters of your door with primer & then use a paint roller for your flat surfaces. Let the applied primer dry before painting.
• Your applied primer should be a similar shade to your final paint color.
• Be sure to use interior primer for your interior door.
4. Next you need to sand your door again once the applied primer has dried wholly. Drying your applied primer will take 1-3 hours. Sand lightly & evenly, just like the first time. Wipe off your door by using a damp cloth to remove the sawdust and let your door dry again before painting.

Step III- Painting Your Door

1. Firstly, stir your paint & pour it into your roller tray. Paint cans always mention that it is for exterior or interior use, so be sure that you have interior paint before painting your door. Stir the paint well by using your stirring stick until it is not separated & do not have any lumps.
2. Next you need to use your 9-inch roller to paint your whole door if the door doesn’t have any panels. Mix the paint with your stirring stick and pour it into your roller tray. Start rolling with the long & even strokes. Make sure that the paint is in the same direction according to the wood grain. Paint the edges of your door last.
3. Now you need to paint the recessed panels, all the crosswise rails & the vertical stiles if your door has panels. Now you need to use your small roller to speedily roll on the applied paint. Then use your brush to smooth it out and then fill in any missed spot. Your brush should be going according to the wood grain. Paint all the edges of your door last. Smooth out any paint drips on the door with your paintbrush.
4. Let your door dry and then apply a second coat. The drying process will take up to 1-2 hours. You may also have to sand betwixt coats. Apply the second coat of your paint, in the same manner, you did the first.
5. Finally you need to paint the other side of your door by using the same process. Once your door has dried completely, you will have to put your door back on its hinges and then you need to return any type of hardware you removed, like doorknobs. Now you can enjoy the new & clean door that you painted yourself.