For convenience, it's tempting to leave a door hanging on its hinges when you paint. But for a smooth finish, you have to lay it flat and remove the hinges, knobs and other hardware. With the door laid flat on sawhorses, you can spread paint more quickly and not worry about drips and paint sags.
How to Paint A Door Without Removing It? Step 1 – Use painter's tape to cover the hinges. Use your finger to smooth the tape along the edge of the hinge. Protecting the hinges will make it easier to paint the door.
We would always recommend painting your door before it's been hung (installed). Find out more about finishing and decorating your interior doors here.
Leave the door open.
Oil-based paints typically take longer to dry than latex paints. If painting a detached door, wait 24 to 36 hours until the second coat is completely dry before rehanging.
A minimum of 2 coats applied. If you are painting a primed door: A latex or water-based paint can be used. A minimum of 2 coats is recommended however, you can apply as many coats to acquire desired finish. Lightly sand all 6 sides of primed door with #220 or higher grit sandpaper.
You should plan on at least two coats of paint per side, and two sides per door, as well as extra for the edges and the door frame, if you are painting that as well. Therefore, 1 quart should cover a standard interior door; you may want 2 quarts if your door is wider or taller.
Door Painting Tips
The easiest way to paint a door is while it is in its frame on its hinges. If you remove the door from the frame, the frame may shift and the door may not fit or function properly when replaced. Another reason to leave it on its hinges is that you can paint both sides at the same time.
For convenience, it's tempting to leave a door hanging on its hinges when you paint. But for a smooth finish, you have to lay it flat and remove the hinges, knobs and other hardware. With the door laid flat on sawhorses, you can spread paint more quickly and not worry about drips and paint sags.
For the edge that has the hinge hardware, start by painting around the hardware with a paintbrush. If you get paint on the hinge, quickly wipe the paint towards the edge of the hinge using your finger or a paper towel. If you catch it before the paint dries, it will come off very easily.
What Is the Best Way to Paint an Interior Door? The best way to paint your door is by using both a paintbrush and a foam roller. You should begin by brushing a light coat of paint on the door. Because the brush can leave drips or runs, it is best to do this first, before the rest of the door is painted.
Paint the door from the top down, using a wide brush for corners or crevices and a small roller for flat panels. Make long strokes with the brush, and clean any visible lines on the front of the door with a dry cloth.
Note: Painting a door typically takes three to five hours, depending on the condition of the door and how fussy you are. But add in the drying time and it's a full-day project.
Hinge Adjustments
Thick paint may make a door too big for the frame, and, as a result, the paint will stick to the frame when the door is closed. The door may stick tight enough to warrant yanking to open it or shoving to securely close it. Sometimes sticking paint can be resolved by tightening or adjusting the hinges.
Front door paint can be applied using brushes or rollers, but professionals use rollers for a smooth finish.
Semigloss is the best paint finish for interior doors and trim. The reason being, semi-gloss can take up quite an abuse and stand up to nicks and scrapes better than any other sheen, flat or eggshell finish. The large surfaces gather dust just like your furniture.
A satin or semi-gloss finish is the best for doors both inside and outside the home. Glossy finishes offer the best protection against damage and deterioration, while semi-gloss paint is easy to clean, given the paint dries in a way that allows accumulated dirt and grime to wipe off with little effort required.
How to prepare a door frame for painting. Before we start, if you're painting the door too you should do the frame first. This will ensure you don't get any paint on your freshly painted door. You can also choose to paint the frame any colour you want – it doesn't have to be the same colour as the door.
You will want to paint both sides of a front door, but you don't need to paint them the same color. Just be sure you paint the exterior side of the door a color that matches both the interior and exterior.
Each door is 68 square feet, including front, back, and edges. One gallon of paint covers about 350 square feet. So, you'll need about one gallon of paint for every five doors.
Here is what our experts at Hirshfield's suggest for the best time to take on an exterior paint job. An overall general rule of thumb is that oil-based paint can be applied when the temperatures are between 40°- 90° F and latex paint is best applied between 50°- 85° F.
Will a quart of paint cover a door? A quart of paint is more than enough to cover a door. In fact, you need less than half a quart to cover a 20 square foot door in two coats of paint. If you don't have a primer, it'll take more paint.