How to Paint All of Your Interior Doors Quickly

Painting interior doors is a great way to give your rooms a refreshing touch, but sometimes the hassle can make the job seem like too much of a chore to be worth it. Don't worry, your friendly pros at Five Star Painting are here to help you learn how to paint interior doors quickly and easily.

1. Preparing Your Doors

When tackling any paint job, your results will only be as good as your preparation efforts. If you are painting several doors, you'll find the process moves much faster when you create an assembly line.

First, remove and unhinge all of the doors and bring them into one room, preferably a garage or basement where the occasional drip won't cause a problem. Otherwise, be sure to lay drop cloths under your work surface to protect your flooring. Painting the doors while flat will prevent dripping, and you can prop them up on sawhorses or blocks.

Next, follow these prep steps for a perfect finish:

• Remove Hardware. Trying to tape around round doorknobs and awkwardly shaped hinges is tricky. It's much easier to remove them completely.
• Tape Around Details. If you have decorative glass or other features in the door that cannot be removed, carefully tape around them to protect from drips and accidental marks.
• Clean the Door. Use a degreasing cleaner, especially around doorknobs, to remove dirt and grime.
• Fill Dents & Sand. Use a sand-able filler to tidy up dents and dings. Once your filler is dry, sand the entire door to level out old brush marks and dried up drips.

2. Prepare Your Workspace

Dust in the air and on work surfaces will inevitably rest on your brushes, rollers, and freshly-painted doors. Vacuum everything thoroughly, and bring in extra lighting if you need it. Gather all your tools so they're ready including a pail of water and rags for cleaning up, and a pair of tweezers for removing bits that end up in your paint. Lastly, wipe down the door with a damp cloth to be sure all debris is eliminated.

Proper ventilation is necessary when working with most paints, but you want to avoid too much airflow that will kick up dust and cause paint to dry too quickly while you're still working.

3. Time to Paint!

After all that prep, it's finally time to paint your doors. If you're painting new doors or covering a tough color, you'll want to apply a primer first. You should also "spot-prime" any areas that needed filling. Invest in a quality paintbrush or roller cover. Rolling on paint is a little quicker, but can leave stipple, or slightly raised bumps requiring you to brush them out. Work with both to see which works better for you.

Start by painting all four edges, and wipe up any paint that makes its way around the corner. Then move on to the main areas of the door. Try to work quickly and always finish the entire side of the door at once. Two coats may be necessary; be sure to let the paint dry for several hours between coats and give the door a light sanding with 220-grit sandpaper and wipe down with a damp rag before applying another coat.

Professional Results with Five Star Painting

With some patience and proper prep, you can achieve great results when painting your doors. If  all of this sounds like a bit more than you'd like to dig into, contact the professionals at Five Star Painting today!