How to Paint a Door: Basic Techniques for a Flawless Finish

The first step, whenever you paint anything, is to PREP! Preparation is so important to make sure you get clean lines, smooth walls, and even paint. I love the statement, “Slow down to speed up”. Slow down and do the prep work, and the painting will go so much smoother! Here is the process I go through to prep my door for paint.

1. Most doors (especially exterior doors) get so dirty! So, before painting, give your door a nice bath! Make sure any dirt, fingerprints, or bugs are removed.
2. Remove any hardware that you can. Door handles are so easy to remove, so just take them off. It is easier than covering them.
3. Tape – I always use GREEN FROG TAPE! It is by far the best tape. Tape everything you do not want to get paint on – around trim, baseboards, hinges, etc.
4. When spraying, cover the walls and floor 3-5 feet past the door. I use the painter’s tape with plastic. I tape it on, then go over the tape with more Green Frog Tape to make sure the paint does not leak under. For the floor, I use a brown paper roll and masking tape.
5. Sand anything you need to sand. If there is peeling paint or imperfections that you want to fix, do that now. Use Bondo when filling holes on the door. Bondo dries super hard and can be sanded smooth.
6. Primer is actually not necessary. If you use a good quality paint, you do not need to use primer. BUT, if you do use primer, make sure it is an oil or shellac-based primer.

Now we PAINT!

Now that all the boring prep work is out of the way, we can have some fun with paint! When painting without a paint sprayer, use a FOAM ROLLER. Foam rollers are best for smooth surfaces. Use a standard paintbrush for the panel frames, then roll the rest.

You will most likely need at least two coats. So when the first coat is dry, sand down any imperfections. Get 400-500 grit sandpaper wet and gently sand the imperfections out. Then paint the second coat.

Clean Up, and You’re Done Painting Your Door!

This part is important! So listen up! Make sure you remove the tape while the last coat of paint is still wet! It prevents the paint from peeling or getting stuck. Remove any tape, plastic, and paper.

Once the paint is dry, reinstall your handles and anything else you removed. And you are done!

1. The wet sanding was totally her idea. Use 400-500 grit sandpaper, get it wet, and then gently sand imperfections.
2. If you have glass and don’t want to tape it, you can get this liquid masking tape. It reminds me of Elmer’s glue. Just paint it on the glass and paint as normal. Then peel it off when you are done! No tape required. And peeling it is very satisfying, lol.
3. If you put paper on the floor over an air vent and it is blowing up, just cut small slits in it over the vent, and it will not bubble anymore!
4. Spend a couple of bucks to get a bucket pour spout. It’s worth it! However, if you don’t have one, you can make one with painter’s tape! Watch the video below to see how.
5. This is my mom’s BEST FIND EVER! It’s a painter’s tape dispenser, and it makes ripping tape so much easier!
6. Do you need to mix your paint? Hold the handle of the paint, bend over slightly, and shake it back and forth. This is how the mixers at the store mix it!
7. If you need to cover stucco or stone, use duct tape instead of painters’ tape. It holds on the stucco much better!
8. The best kinds of paint to use on exterior doors are multi-surface acrylic or urethane paint. Or if you are unsure, ask the paint counter which is best.