How to paint interior doors step by step

To paint an interior door, clean it well, sand the surface, apply a suitable primer and give it two thin coats of enamel. The order of work and patience between coats make more difference than the paint itself. A well-done door takes a weekend, mostly because of drying times.

What you need before you start

Gather everything before opening the tin. That way you will not have to stop halfway, when the paint is already drying.

Preparing the door

If you can, take the door off its hinges and lay it flat on two trestles. Painting horizontally greatly reduces drips. If you cannot, leave it in place and protect the floor and the wall.

Remove the handles, locks and escutcheons. It is quicker than masking them with tape and the result is cleaner. Keep the screws in a bag, one per door.

Wash the surface with degreaser. Doors always carry grease from hands, especially around the handle. If any grease remains, the paint will not stick properly. Leave it to dry completely.

Sanding, filling and priming

Sand the whole door to remove the shine. You do not need to go down to bare wood if the old paint is sound. The aim is to leave the surface matt and slightly rough, so the new paint can grip. Remove the dust with a slightly damp cloth and leave to dry.

Fill holes and scratches with filler, leave to dry and sand again, only in those areas. Run your hand over the surface: if you can feel differences, sand a little more.

Tip: If the house is very old, the old paint may contain lead. Before dry sanding, assess the risk. If in doubt, wet sand, avoid creating dust and seek advice. Do not sand near children or pregnant women.

Apply the primer in a thin coat. If the door is lacquered or varnished, choose an adhesion primer. If it has bare wood or knot stains, use a primer that seals them. Check the drying time on the tin and stick to it.

Painting in the right order

The right order avoids overlap marks. Always paint from the hardest areas to the easiest, and from the inside outwards.

  1. If the door has raised panels, paint the recesses and mouldings first with the brush.
  2. Then paint the flat central areas with the roller, in short strips.
  3. Finish with the vertical edges and draw the brush lightly along the grain or the length of the door.
  4. Do not go back over an area that has already started to dry. Touch-ups leave marks.

Do not overload the brush. Two thin coats look better than one thick one. A thick coat runs, takes a long time to dry and ends up with an orange-peel texture.

Sanding between coats and finishing

When the first coat is touch-dry and ready for the second, according to the tin, go over it with very fine sandpaper. Just a light touch to smooth out small grains. Clean off the dust and apply the second coat.

Remove the masking tape while the paint is not yet completely dry but no longer runs. If you wait too long, you may lift paint along with the tape. Pull the tape slowly and at a low angle.

Do not close the door straight away. Even when touch-dry, the paint is still soft underneath and may stick to the frame. If possible, leave the door open for a while and only refit the hardware once the paint is properly hard.

Tip: Paint with the window open, but without a strong draught. A draught brings in dust and makes the paint dry too quickly, which leaves marks.

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