How to Paint an Interior Door

After some years, painted doors eventually fade and start looking worn out. Giving your interior door a fresh coat of paint can upgrade your home’s look. To help you out, here are some tips from East Orlando’s top professional painters from CertaPro Painters® of East Orlando.

What Do You Need to Paint a Door?

Planning a DIY interior door paint project? Here are the tools and materials you’ll need to get. Our expert painters suggest paying for professional door painting services in East Orlando to achieve your interior door goals.

• • • • Bucket
      • Dust mask
      • Foam brushes
      • Orbital sander
      • Paint
      • Paintbrush
      • Paint drip remover
      • Paint roller
      • Paint scraper
      • Primer
      • Putty knife
      • Rags
      • Roller sleeve
      • Roller tray
      • Sanding block
      • Sandable filler
      • Sanding sponges
      • Sandpaper
      • Shop light
      • Shop vacuum
      • Tweezers
      • Utility knife

      How Do You Prepare a Door for Painting?

      
      1. Prep Space

      Professional painters will paint the door in place. But if you’re planning on doing it yourself, it’s safer to remove the door first. Laying the door flat can reduce a lot of potential paint errors.

      The ideal place to paint the detached door would be in your garage or basement. Wherever the drying conditions are better or where you have proper lighting.

      2. Clean the Door Surface

      You can use any household cleaner to remove any grease on the door. The doorknobs are especially prone to grease buildup, so make sure to take care of that before you start painting.

      After that, remove all door hardware. Take note that hinges and latches can also catch unpleasant paint buildup.

      Then use the sandable filler to fill dents and holes on the door. Lastly, remove any existing paint on the hardware.

      3. Sand the Door Smooth

      Start with using light sandpaper or 180/220 grit sanding sponge. This will roughen the door surface at first but it’s important that you do this so the paint sticks better.

      After this, continue sanding the door’s chipped paint and other blemishes sustained from previous paint jobs. This could take a while. That’s why we suggest hiring experienced residential painters in East Orlando to take over the entire prep-to-paint process.

      You’ll also have to ensure that old runs and brush marks on flat areas are all smoothened out. To do this, you’ll have to combine the use of sanding pads, sponges, and sandpaper scraps.

      4. Brush off the Sanding Dust

      Use a vacuum with a brush attachment to brush off the sanding dust on the door surface. After that, wipe off the surface with a damp rag to make sure no sanding dust will get in the way of the paint application.

      5. Prime Then Sand Again

      
      Should you prime your interior door before painting? That’s the most common question when it comes to painting interior doors.

      The answer is yes, of course. Priming will ensure that your paint lasts long. Also, it will provide a smooth base for your paint.

      Just remember to sand after applying the prime coat to perfectly smoothen the interior door surface. You’ll need proper lighting to trace all imperfections from different angles.

       

      5. Paint

      Choose a paint made for a polished and smooth finish. They are usually labeled “enamel” or “door and trim.” CertaPro Painters® of East Orlando offers FREE color consultation. Our pro painting contractors will help you find the right paint for your interior door, too.

      Hire Professional Painters

      CertaPro Painters® of East Orlando offers the top, high-quality house painting services in East Orlando. Call us now at 407-378-2071 for a FREE no-obligation estimate on your interior door paint project.