Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow. Unscrew the 2 screws from the latch on the side of the door and pull it out of the door. Whitewashing a plain wooden door is a way to finish it inexpensively and attractively. With a helper supporting the weight of the door, remove the pins and carry the door to your chosen location for painting. © 2000-2020 Home Depot Product Authority, LLC. Coat the recessed areas first and then the faces of the panels. This combination can be … Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Before painting, clean the door with a degreasing cleaner. Choose paint recommended for interior doors, such as types with a durable gloss or semi gloss sheen that makes it easy to clean. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. When reviewing how to paint a door, you may find that painting an unattached door, placed flat on a pair of sawhorses, encourages an even coat without drips or runs and makes it easier to paint the edges. Apply white pigmented shellac primer to the wood trim, using a synthetic fiber paintbrush. 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. Lightly tap the screwdriver with a hammer until the hinge pins come loose. Brush or roll the edges, but be careful not to get any runs on the face of the door. Unscrew the hinges completely if you don’t want to worry about covering them with tape. There are 21 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. If you have humid or cool weather, let the primer dry for an additional 2 hours. All Rights Reserved. Clean down with white spirit. If you’ve ever contemplated “should I paint my wood trim white?” then you’re in the right place. Note that it is perfectly OK to use your roller across the entire horizontal sections. Oak doors have a distinct wood grain that adds to the look and texture of your home, and it is still visible through a layer of paint. Be careful not to paint over the screw-holes so you can easily reattach the hinges after. Have you thought about changing the doors… 4. Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Patrick Coye is the owner and operator of Patrick’s Painting & Home Improvement in Alexandria, Virginia. Choose and purchase your primer and paint. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. Choose an Interior Door Paint Color. Local store prices may vary from those displayed. Here is the door before. This article was co-authored by Patrick Coye. On the flatter surfaces, use the flat of the brush to cover the surface with paint, brush left … If you can, try and avoid going back over surfaces already painted – this will help you create an even finish. This article has been viewed 31,699 times. Any water will cause the wood to warp and swell, resulting in a door that won't close properly. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Place the pins in a safe location so you don’t lose them and so you’re organized. Some of my favorite whites for trimwork and doors are Benjamin Moore’s Cloud White and Dove White … Without a stain-blocking primer, the original color may show through the white paint or the door stains may show through the finished coat of paint. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Patrick's Company won a "Top Job" award from the American Painting contractor magazine in 2020. The wood grain will be visible through the paint since it’s a raised surface. To date, Patrick and his team have painted over 2,000 houses and stained over 800 decks. Cover the tops of the sawhorses with thin pieces of scrap cardboard so the door doesn’t stick once it’s painted. If any drips have formed in the primer, use circular motions with high-grit sandpaper to smooth them out. If you leave the bottom edge unpainted, cover it with a clear wood sealer to prevent moisture from entering the wood. These doors are painted with Emerald Interior Acrylic Latex paint, Satin finish in Dishy Coral SW 6598. I am going to share the easy way to paint wood … In this step, you use the roller to paint the left and right borders from top to bottom, and then the top and bottom border … Once the screws are removed, pull the knob and the collar off of the door. Otherwise, you can use a latex-based primer. We recommend applying two coats, allowing the paint to dry fully in between each coat. Finish the edge around the hinges with a small brush. Remove the door knobs and all other hardware from your interior door to simplify the paint application. Apply as many coats as is necessary to get rid of the dark colour of white undercoat (oil based , not the acrylic one). Old wooden doors generally need sanding and priming. I was trying to get a wood … Paint has difficulty sticking to wood unless it’s been sanded because the surface is too smooth. To remove any … This way, it doesn’t matter if you spill. Allow the primer to dry. Patrick Coye. Interior doors can receive a lot of use during your daily comings and goings. Dark painted doors you wish to paint lighter (or vice versa), you want to use a tinted-primer to cut down on coats. If you’re painting your door white and have white trim around it, I recommend using the same paint color and finish as the trim. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 31,699 times. For wooden doors with flaking, cracked or peeling … We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. unlocking this expert answer. If the house or surface you're painting was built before 1978, see EPA's renovation, repair and painting program for guidelines. To remove the door, wedge a flathead screwdriver or chisel in the joint between the hinge and the top of the hinge pins. Let the door dry completely on one side before flipping it over and painting the opposite side. Apply Primer Depending on the final color, you may want to get the primer tinted. How to Give a Whitewash Effect to a Wooden Door. Apply a coat of primer to the wood surfaces with a paint brush, and allow it to dry overnight. How NOT To Paint a Door to Look Like Wood (My Mistakes!) Smooth out the paint, working with the grain. If you are going to paint a plain, flat door, use a foam roller to roll on the paint and use an angled brush to paint the sides. … Expert Interview. Let each coat dry thoroughly before applying the next. Retouch the edges if you dirty them or scuff the paint while you flip the door over. Begin by applying paint to the inside of the top panels. Wipe off the dust with a brush. Time to paint! Look for a small slot in the door handle if you do not see any screws. Keep the line as straight as possible along the edge where the stiles meet the rails. Start with the edges, then move on to the mouldings and panels, using the edge of the brush for the recesses. 19 August 2020. If the door was originally painted with latex paint, priming should be unnecessary. Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. applying paint to the inside of the top panels. Begin by painting the edges with a brush. This article has been viewed 31,699 times. Cover the door completely. Wipe excess paint off of the brush using the side of the paint tray. Unscrew the knobs to remove them from the door. How to Paint Start by applying the primer. Use an oil-based primer if your wood has been varnished or if it is unfinished. Once the dust has settled, wipe the surface down with white spirit. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Paint-Oak-Doors-White-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Paint-Oak-Doors-White-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Paint-Oak-Doors-White-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid10156595-v4-728px-Paint-Oak-Doors-White-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"