Do you want to give your interior doors a fresh coat of paint? Here are some valuable tips from the painters at Schildersbedrijf ‘s-Hertogenbosch to ensure that your doors look sleek and professional.
Choose the Right Finish
Before you start painting, it’s essential to choose the right finish for your doors. Here are some options:
- Staining: Use colored stain to give the wood a new hue while preserving its natural texture.
- Varnishing: By varnishing, you protect the door with a clear, transparent layer, preserving the natural color and texture.
- Opaque Painting: This method covers the wood grain, protecting the door from moisture, dirt, and scratches.
- Oiling: Oil emphasizes the natural wood structure and provides some protection against moisture.
Preparation of New Doors
When painting new doors, good preparation is the key to success:
- Always use a primer, even if the door already has a primer layer.
- Thoroughly degrease the door with a mixture of water and ammonia before applying the primer.
- Lightly sand the door with sandpaper (grit 180) and apply one coat of primer. For solid wooden doors with opaque paint, use two coats of primer.
Tip: Paint with light pressure and ensure sufficient paint to prevent streaks.
Wood Degreasing
Degreasing the door is a crucial step for a durable result. Choose the right degreaser based on the type of wood:
- Hardwoods (oak, merbau): use synthetic thinner.
- Softwood (pine, spruce): degrease with a mixture of water and ammonia or use St. Marc.
- Existing paint layers: degrease with water and ammonia or use St. Marc.
- MDF: use synthetic thinner or a specific MDF cleaner.
- Remove wax with white spirit / turpentine oil in combination with synthetic thinner.
Don’t forget to ventilate well when using degreasers.
Painting Over Existing Paint Layers
If you want to paint a door with an existing paint layer:
- Lightly sand with sandpaper (grit 180) or a fine sanding sponge.
- Use the desired paint without primer unless the paint starts to peel. In that case, sand more firmly and use primer.
- Tip: Use high-quality brushes and felt rollers for a streak-free result. Store them between painting sessions in cling film to prevent drying.
Steps in Painting
Follow these simple steps for a professional result:
- 1. Cleaning: Thoroughly clean the doors with a degreaser such as ammonia, St. Marc, etc.
- 2. Sanding: Use fine sandpaper (grit 180) or a sanding sponge and clean the door again.
- 3. Applying Primer: Always apply a primer to new doors. For solid wooden doors with opaque paint, use two layers of primer.
- 4. Painting: Apply the paint according to the chosen paint system. Usually, two coats of paint or stain are needed; sand in between with grit 240 or finer.
With these tips, you ensure that your interior doors look sle