Introduction

A good paint job on a door has two distinct purposes; firstly to protect it from the elements (if outside) or from knocks and scrapes (if inside), and secondly to contribute to the aesthetic appeal of the property or room.

Top Tips

• Doors can be painted whilst on their hinges if they are wedged open. They can also be painted off their hinges whilst propped against a wall or laid flat across a pair of workbenches.
• Cover the floor beneath the door with a drop cloth to catch any paint spills.
• When painting woodwork, the paint should be applied with the grain, then ‘laid off’ across the grain - without reloading the brush, and then finished with the grain again. Once done, reload the brush with paint again and move onto the next section.
• Be sure to join up wet edges as quickly as possible.
• If the door is to be different colours on each side, match the colour of the latch edge to that of the room it opens into, and paint the hinge edge the same colour as that of the room it opens away from.
• When painting a doorframe in different colours to match the respective rooms it opens from and to, remember that all frame edges up to and including the one that the door closes against belong to the room into which the door opens.

Painting new wood

Bare timber is an attractive option compared to the time taken and mess made in stripping old paint. However, new wood must be prepared and treated to make sure that your paint job looks good and lasts.

• Tips for painting a new wood door

Preparing and decorating existing paintwork

If existing paintwork is in good order then a simple re-coat will usually suffice, however if the paint is old, flaky and discoloured then it will need to be removed, the door sanded back and then fresh paint applied to produce a decent finish.

• Successfully repainting a wooden door

Painting procedure by door style

The order or sequence that a door is painted varies considerably depending on the style of the door in question. As a general rule, paint is always applied in the direction of the grain, which should be the longest length of the panel or section you are working on. Use the links below for a style specific guide to painting your door;

• How to paint a flush door
• How to paint a panelled door
• How to paint a ledged & braced door

Further information and useful links

• Guide to paint
• Guide to paint stripping
• Full list of painting & decorating topics
• Full list of windows & doors topics

• Find a Decorator near you
• Find a Paint Materials store near you
• Find a Door supplier near you