You want to use a roller and not a brush when painting a door. This will help eliminate brush marks. You want to pick a roller with low texture for the smoothest possible finish with your paint job.
“Painting a front door is best done with a brush. This is because most front doors have wood and/or glass panels and a roller would not be able to paint in the panels the same way that a brush would to give full coverage.”
Microfibre roller sleeves work great for interior doors because they have the flexibility to adjust to different surface textures and materials you're painting. Whether your door is made of timber or laminate, a microfibre roller sleeve can provide the best paint release in any situation for a great finish.
There are many advantages to using a foam roller to paint your interior doors. If painting is not your full time job, you will have a much easier time of obtaining a flawless finish with a foam roller. The roller will spread the paint more smoothly and evenly, and it won't leave brush marks or a bumpy surface.
Walls, Wood, and Metal - Small 1/4″ nap roller covers or foam rollers will produce the smoothest finish. Light to Medium Textured Surfaces - Microfiber rollers are best. Smooth Surfaces - Use a white woven short nap roller for an ultra fine finish.
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.
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.
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.
Many professional painters combine spray painting, roller painting and brush painting depending on the exact surface being painted.
Painting Your Door While It's Removed From Its Frame
Pros: Gravity won't be as much of an issue with your door laid horizontally. It's easier to paint with long, smooth brush strokes. Painting paneled doors is a lot easier when painted horizontally.
Next, Use the 4“ mini foam roller to get the larger flat surface areas. Using this foam roller will ensure you get a finished door without brush marker. Once you have painted all the grooves and the panels are done move on to the rail and then stiles. Be sure to paint the edges and sides of each door too.
Lay the door flat to avoid drips and runs
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.
Before this, you will also need to move any furniture, lay down dust sheets and put any painters tape on edges that need it. Painting skirting boards, doors and windows should take around 1-2 hours for each coat. A door takes around 30-45 minutes, a window 30-40 minutes and skirting board around 15-30 minutes.
The short answer, yes! If you are hand brushing your door it is possible to paint it while it is still on the hinges. Simply tape off the hinges with painter's tape to prevent them from getting painted accidentally.
Begin by applying paint to the inside of the top panels. Smooth out the paint, working with the grain. Coat the recessed areas first and then the faces of the panels. If the door has a vertical center stile, paint this next and then blend in the brush marks from the center stile when you paint the horizontal rails.
The labor cost to paint exterior doors ranges from $80 to $300, depending on a number of factors like the size of the entranceway, the type of doors you have, and the paint you choose for the job.
1” brush makes light work of door frames, stairway spindles and small edges. 1 ½” brushes are best for larger door frames and skirting boards. 2” brush should be used for cupboard doors and dado rails. 2 ½” brushes are excellent for painting panelled doors, beams and large furniture.
What is the best roller for painting front doors? You guessed it – the best thing to use to paint a front door is a mini foam roller. The high density foam will give your door the perfect smooth finish!