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6. Painting Doors
from: SelfHomeImprovement.comPainting a door can change the look of an interior room or the exterior appearance, without a lot or remodelling or construction mess.
Interior doors previously stained or polyurethane will need to be sanded to remove any sheen from the existing surface. Before sanding, protect the room and floor with a drop cloth or painter's tarp to collect any dust and paint drops. It would be a good time to remove the door knob and lockset if one is present, before sanding, and to make painting that much easier. After the door is sanded and cleaned, a good primer will be needed to make sure the old stain will not 'bleed' through the new finish. Following the grain of the wood, keeping a good 'wet' edge of paint, prime the entire surface. If both sides are to be painted, it is best to leave the door on the hinges and swung half way open to get access to both sides of the door. If only one side is to be painted, for a good finished job, it would be best to remove the door and lay it flat on some saw horses.
With the door removed, removing the hinges would be recommended, for a clean finish as well.
With the primer coat finished and dry, apply the finish coat of paint, again, nice long even strokes following the wood grain. If needed, a second coat may be required if the original colour was a lot darker then the new finish. After the paint has completely cured, apply the hinges, if removed, and re-hang the door. After that, put the doorknob and lockset back on.
Exterior doors will need either a good exterior grade paint or, if stained or left 'clear', a good exterior polyurethane or lacquer should be used. If brushing on paint, follow the steps used in painting an interior door, removing all hardware and cleaning the surface properly. When staining or leaving the door 'clear', if the door was previously painted, the door must be sanded to bare wood again. Apply the stain with a rag, and after 10 minutes wipe off the excess. This is done to allow the wood to absorb the stain evenly.
After the stain is completely dry, apply a polyurethane or lacquer with a good brush and long even strokes, following the wood grain again. The trick here is to apply a few thin coats to avoid drips and runs, as this finish will be thinner than paint. When the final finish is complete, put all the door hardware back on.
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