Tips for painting a door like a pro
It is difficult to spend so much time at home, due to the restrictions or the cold wave, and not realize that that sad or old wooden door screams for a coat of paint. There is a prize: adding color to your doors is an effective, less cumbersome and much cheaper way to give your home a facelift, without having to paint the walls or cover them with a wallpaper. And, above all, much easier and faster.
What to consider when covering a wall with wallpaper
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Paint a door: what you need
You need a brush, a roller and its bucket, as well as a little masking or painter's tape, to protect the surfaces that you do not want to stain without leaving a trace of glue. Also, alcohol for clean the door before painting and a clean cloth. And, of course, a bottle of paint in a shade that you like.
Chalk finishing products, called chalk paints, are a trend, but sometimes their result is not as resistant as we would like for a high-wear area, such as a door. An alternative is to opt for a eggshell paint or eggshell.
Their tones are very similar, but somewhat more satiny, than those of chalk paint; and that usually offers a more durable finish. Also, if you want, you can use sandpaper before starting to paint to improve paint adhesion; but this step is not usually necessary and you can skip it.
1. Release the door from the axles
It is more comfortable to release the door from its axles to paint more comfortably. Even so, if what you are going to paint is the front door to your house, this step is difficult to carry out, because you would be left without a door for about two days; and in this case, there is no choice but to skip it. But you can do it with interiors - letting go of the door will help the paint to dry better and make the process even easier.
2. Clean the door before painting
The first thing is to clean the door. To do this, impregnate a clean cloth with alcohol, and thoroughly go over the entire surface. This step is important as it helps you degrease the wood and will make the paint adhere better. If you don't have alcohol, you can also use ammonia diluted in water (to reduce its concentration) or a solvent.
3. Sand and clean again (you can skip it)
Sanding the surface to be covered with sandpaper improves the adhesion of the paint. You can also take advantage of this moment to fix any damage or apply a wood putty to restore the door. If you sand, the surface should be cleaned again. But if your door is decent, you can skip this step.
4. Protect the wall with masking tape
It seems obvious, but just in case: don't forget to cover the doorknob and edge of the wall with masking or painter's tape. This adhesive tape, widely used for this type of work, protects without leaving glue marks when removed. Use it to cover the areas of the wall that you do not want to paint or that are stained. If you are going to paint the front door, it is also important to put masking tape on the peephole.
5. Brush for the most difficult areas
Professional painters call trimming to pass the brush through those areas that are difficult to access, and that would be more complicated to cover only with the roller. If your door has moldings, protrusions, ornaments or any other pattern in relief, you have to brush them first, since it will be difficult for them to be well just with the roller.
For a more refined result, use a small brush in all the areas where it is going to be difficult for you to get right with the brush; that is, the moldings or reliefs, as well as the outline.
If you are painting the entrance door, or you have not managed to remove an interior one, remember to also review the edges. To do this, you will have to leave it open as long as possible, but you can take advantage of it to review the wear areas that you find in the corners.
Most paints are already "self-leveling" and do not need a primer (they allow painting without first applying a product). Therefore, do not worry too much about not covering full layers, or about going over one area more than others, for example, if there is a friction: these types of products are designed so that you can do it and not be noticed.
6. Paint the door: with a brush or roller (better)
Now you have two options: continue with the brush or use a roller. If your door is very complicated or has too many reliefs, surely the brush is a better option. In this case, dip it in the paint and fill in any uncovered spaces.
If the door is not that complicated, and you are looking for a cleaner finish, the roller is a better alternative. You have to wet it in paint, and move it over the still clean areas. One precaution: when you use a roller, it is quite common for the paint to generate a few small bubbles during the first coat.
It is a sign that the surface lacks good adhesion. Nothing happens: to eliminate them, we just need to work that area a little more. And, for them to disappear, it is usually enough to review the area with patience, and little paint.
7. Give it a second hand
After the first coat of paint, it is normal for the result to be uneven; Especially if your door is very dark and you want to cover it with a much lighter color. There is no need to worry: usually it is enough to repeat the process and give it a second coat of paint to homogenize the layers and that the result is almost perfect, and quite polished. Let it dry for 48 hours, and you have it!
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