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.
One gallon of paint covers about 350 square feet. So, you'll need about one gallon of paint for every five doors. Most paintable interior doors today come pre-primed. If the door is bare wood, it's likely meant to be stained and coated.
Apply the paint in even, broad strokes across the surface of the door. If you can, try and avoid going back over surfaces already painted – this will help you create an even finish. We recommend applying two coats, allowing the paint to dry fully in between each coat.
Make long strokes with the brush, and clean any visible lines on the front of the door with a dry cloth. Just as with the primer, let each side of the door dry before turning it over to work on the other side. Add at least two coats of paint to the door, using three or more if you want to increase the color saturation.
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.
Brush marks
If you have a door with a lot of detailing, you may want to paint it with a brush rather than a roller. While a brush is more work, it's far easier to get into indentations and carvings than a roller.
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.
Best sheen for interior doors
Semi-gloss paint finishes are durable, cleanable, and look pristine. This makes them perfect for doors. If you want an ultra modern look – with more flat/non-intricate doors – glossy paint can work as well for a lacquered look.
Trim or Baseboard Gets One to Three Coats of Paint
Best results: If you're painting a fresh coat over the same color, one coat will be enough to liven it up. However, if you're painting the trim a different color or painting unfinished trim, apply a primer coat and two to three coats of 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. And you can still paint both sides in a day if you rest the door on lag screws. Drill one 3/16-in.
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.
Three doors (one room door and two closet doors) x 20 = 60 square feet [576 - 60 = 516] Two windows x 15 = 30 square feet [516 - 30 = 486] 486 / 400 = 1.2 gallons of paint needed per coat.
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.
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.
Preparing to Paint a Door
Choose paint recommended for interior doors, such as types with a durable gloss or semi gloss sheen that makes them easy to clean. If possible, paint in a well-ventilated area or use a fan to circulate the air. Before painting, clean the door with a degreasing cleaner.
And because a glossy surface is more slick, it's also more resistant to moisture. As a general rule, use satin for interior walls and furniture and semi-gloss for small areas that need highlighting such as cabinets, mantels, stair rails, door and window frames.
Both satin and eggshell paints can be used on interior woodwork including doors, window and door frames, skirting boards, architraves, stair railings and other architectural details. Eggshell is better for a lower sheen with a matte emulsion feel while satin is glossier.
An eggshell finish will be more forgiving when it comes to imperfections on your walls, and is durable and easy to clean. Semi-gloss finish: This is the best finish for your trims such as baseboards, mouldings and even cabinets and doors.
Sand the Door Surface
You want a smooth, even surface to paint over for the cleanest result. Sanding will also remove any paint or coating on the door, making it a better surface to hold the paint. You may choose an electric sander, but we kept it simple and used a sanding block.
Painting interior doors, particularly six-paneled doors, by hand is difficult and time-consuming without a sprayer. A sprayer, equipped with the right paint and spray tip size, gives you the smoothest finish on doors, without spending hours of mind-numbing work brushing and rolling each coat of paint.
After your first coat of paint is dry, it's safe to recoat typically after four to six hours. A good rule of thumb is to wait at least three hours to recoat your paint or primer if it's water-based.
Do I have to paint both sides of the door? No, especially when you are painting a door that stays open most of the time. If you decide to paint just one side, paint the edge of the door from the direction it's traveled through most.
Smooth Surfaces
Painters often use traditional rollers for uneven exterior walls and foam rollers for smooth interior walls, doors, and cabinets. Foam rollers glide along a smooth flat surface very easily and dispense the paint on the surfaces evenly.