The better to paint interior wooden doors. Do-it-yourself painting of wooden doors - we bring old door panels back to life

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Thanks to modern innovative materials, you can give an old wooden door a completely new look, in line with fashion trends. This is easy to do on your own at home. The main thing is to follow the technology. In the article we will talk about how to paint a wooden door and what materials and tools you will need for this.

Before staining

When the door is still new and has not been painted, it is necessary to decide whether to leave the natural beauty of natural wood visible or cover it with a solid opaque coat of paint. How exactly to paint a wooden door - the choice of materials for work will depend on this decision.

Paint selection

If it is decided to preserve the natural color of the wood, there is no need to buy paint. In this case, you will need oil impregnation or clear varnish. They brighten up the color of the wood. Tinted varnish or stain will help to give the array new color shades.

If you want to update an existing varnished surface, you need to purchase a putty to match the color of the array. It is useful for leveling the surface of the door leaf after removing the old varnish.

For opaque painting of wooden surfaces, there are many types of enamels: alkyd, oil, polyurethane, acrylic, perchlorovinyl. For painting bath doors, it is better to choose polyurethane paint: it has a high resistance to negative external influences.

What is the best paint for interior wooden doors? For non-professional craftsmen, experts recommend choosing water-based acrylic paints. They have an optimal consistency for working with a brush and spread well. Such paints have high water-repellent qualities, good drying speed and resistance to temperature fluctuations.

Tool selection

For painting, you will need a narrow panel brush and roller. With a brush, a paneled canvas and all kinds of decorative slats on the door are painted over. The roller is useful for painting large and even surfaces of the door leaf. You can buy a paint sprayer, but it is desirable to have some experience to work with it. In addition, it is unprofitable to purchase this tool for painting one or two doors.

Coloring

For those who have seen how a master paints wooden doors, it may seem that there is absolutely nothing complicated about this. However, a beginner, in order to achieve a good result, must strictly follow all the instructions and the procedure for performing work.

It is important to learn how to paint the doors evenly, without the formation of frozen smudges or stains under the varnish.

Often staining is carried out in several stages. First, impregnation is used, it happens with or without a tinting effect. After that, a decorative coating is applied.

How to paint a wooden door without applying paint and varnish products? In this case, the impregnation or stain must be applied in at least three layers in order to protect the surface from external influences as much as possible. More layers are applied to achieve the desired color shade.

Do not forget that the jambs with a lintel also need to be updated. Preparation for their staining is carried out in the same sequence and with the same tools as for the door leaf. Since it does not make sense to dismantle and take the door frame outside before painting, it is important to take care of protecting the flooring from paint ingress, as well as to provide fresh air to the room for good ventilation.

Products applied to the surface may not be compatible. For example, a varnished door cannot be impregnated with drying oil. In this case, only stain will do. It is also important to remember that all alkyd resin based paints can only be applied to a dry surface, otherwise the paint will peel off.

Door leaf preparation

In order to paint the door with the highest quality, it is removed from the hinges and placed in a horizontal position on the goats, two stools or a desktop. It is best to place the removed door outdoors. So it dries faster and in the living room there will be less smell of paint.

If for some reason it is impossible to remove the door, you need to block the canvas with wedges so that the panel brush can easily reach all the necessary elements of the door. This is also necessary so that the door does not accidentally close before it is completely dry.

It is advisable to dismantle the fittings. If this is not possible, close the handles and hinges tightly with metal foil. Fix the lock mechanism in the “open” position and close it with tape.

Surface cleaning

For those who are not professional painters, one of the most important questions will be how to properly remove old paint from a wooden door? The question is really important, because the final result will largely depend on the quality of this process. Therefore, special attention should be paid to preparing the door for painting.

Before a new painting, it is necessary to remove all old layers of paint, primer and putty from the surface of the door to the wood itself. Such work is quite easy to do with a grinder. A more time-consuming way is to use a home-made device, consisting of a bar of a hand-friendly shape and medium-grained sandpaper glued to the working surface. The most effective is the use of a building hair dryer. It heats the paint, after which it is easy to remove with a spatula. Another way is to wash off the old paint with special means. It is not complicated, but costly - such funds are not cheap.

Grinding

After that, an initial grinding is performed, which eliminates small dents, scratches and paint residues. Here you can also use a grinder or medium-grain sandpaper.

Next, the surface is leveled with putty: large dents, cracks, crevices, etc. are smeared. Deep dents can be covered with auto-filler, which does not include fiberglass. It is important not to forget that putty is selected under the transparent coating to match the natural wood grain.

After complete drying, secondary grinding is performed. First, an abrasive is used as in the previous stage, then a fine-grained analogue. The treated surface must be vacuumed, wiped with a damp cloth and dried well.

Sometimes, after removing the old paint, it turns out that the solid wood still looks good enough and you can not apply an opaque coating to it. In this case, it is recommended to bleach it with a mixture of chlorine bleach and water in a ratio of 1:3, dry it well, and then varnish it.

Coloring

To understand how to properly paint a particular wooden door, it is important to understand its structure. The most common types of doors for painting are panel (completely smooth) and paneled (with recesses and, possibly, slats). It is correct to paint the panel door in three steps. It is better to use a roller, it ensures uniform application and does not leave hairs.

Painting techniques

You need to start from the upper left corner of the door leaf and head to the right side. Follow this direction until the end of staining, then dry in accordance with the instructions on the paint. Staining for the second time is done in the longitudinal direction. The last coloring starts from the upper right corner, opposite to the first stage of painting.

The paneled door is being painted with a brush. Before starting work, the brush must be fluffed so that all loosely fixed hairs fall out without getting into the paint. It stains all the recesses in the canvas. It is important to ensure that there is no overabundance of paint. After that, the roller enters the work and painting is carried out in accordance with the above technological steps for a panel door.

Staining with stain

How else can you paint an interior wooden door? If you paint with a stain, then the door prepared for painting must first be slightly moistened. In this case, the dye, which has a liquid consistency, will lie flat.

The first stain is applied along the fibers, the second - in the transverse direction, the third is similar to the first. If the canvas is not removed from the hinges, you need to start painting from the bottom so that the dye drops do not fall on the unpainted areas, otherwise it will be difficult to achieve an even tone. The same goes for the door frame. This is true for surface preparation for varnish or other transparent coating. If the doors end up being coated with an opaque compound, the occasional drip of stain will not damage the final appearance of the doors.

Water-soluble stain allows wood fibers that have absorbed moisture to straighten out. To keep the surface of the doors smooth, after the first layer has dried, the doors are sanded with a sandpaper, then they are cleaned of dust and stained a second time. The wooden surface during the application of the dye to it is several tones darker than the dried one. This must be taken into account if there is a desire to achieve a specific color shade.

Alcohol stain does not stimulate the straightening of the fibers, so it is not necessary to grind the doors after applying it. Such a stain dries very quickly, but water-soluble is considered safer.

wood look

If desired, painting can imitate MDF or plywood-covered doors under natural wood. There are several ways to decorate like this.

Option one

The door leaf is painted with light gray, light beige or yellow paint and left to dry completely according to the instructions of the manufacturer of the coloring composition. With a wide brush, the entire surface of the door is treated with liquid soap. A layer of darker paint is applied, and the liquid soap that protrudes to the surface is washed off.

Option two

For its implementation, you will need a special brush, which can be purchased at any hardware store. The soft fibers of the door covering are processed with this brush. Then the surface is painted with two different color (wood-like) dyes. Changes in the structure of the canvas, made by brushing, will spontaneously give curls that create the illusion of wood.

After complete drying, the surface is sanded and varnished. In a similar way, it will be possible to restore furniture.

Doing this job will not be too easy, so it is recommended that you first practice on another similar surface, and not on the door itself.

After repair, it is often necessary to update old interior doors or buy a new door leaf for painting. It is much cheaper than buying expensive doors, and the old wooden surface can be transformed beyond recognition. Any door leaf must be properly prepared for painting or varnishing. But the simplest and most affordable method of finishing or updating is self-painting of interior doors.

Preparing to paint an old door leaf

No matter how high-quality the surface of the door, over time it will lose its chic. During operation, scratches and chips appear, the paint peels off, the varnish fades, the hinges loosen. And if you can somehow put up with this before the repair, then after the transformation of the interior design, painting of interior doors or a complete replacement is necessary. Any repair requires sophisticated equipment and tools, and updating a door requires basic brush and roller skills and primitive fixtures.

If everything is done according to technology, neatly and competently, then even a specialist will not undertake to say whether it is an old door or a new one, especially if you replace the fittings. Yes, and doing “creative exercises” on an old wooden door is not so scary, so this is ideal for beginners in repair. For example, in the children's room - the original painting of interior doors, photo:

You can practice with a more experienced mentor in changing locks and latches, or retire, imagining yourself as an artist with a canvas to create exclusive! Yes, and a simple replacement of hinged hinges and handles does not require making holes and hinges in the door leaf, if all dimensions are met. And if the old holes no longer fit, then they select fittings with wider overlays to cover old defects. Therefore, before painting, it is worth deciding on the desired degree of transformation of the old door, choosing the type of painting or another type of new finish. For example, paste over one side with photo wallpapers with a view of the alley into the summer garden.

Strong doors without defects are often painted while standing nearby, without removing them from the hinges, laying old newspapers on the floor. Often this is done in a hurry, without eliminating defects and puttying dents in places where the old paint peeled off, over several old layers. But this is an illiterate door repair, and with such painting streaks and streaks of paint are formed, brush strokes are visible.

Attention: Some interior doors are problematic to remove from the hinges, as they are installed together with the frame. And this is the only reason for such an illiterate repainting. It is not necessary to remove if these are sliding interior doors hidden, only one surface is allocated for painting. Then sticky quick-drying paint is evenly applied to a smooth surface with a roller.

If you do the restoration and painting of the previously used interior door in accordance with all the rules, then first the door leaf is removed from the hinges and the fittings are carefully removed. With problematic dismantling of hinged hinges, locks and handles, it is easier to cover them with masking tape, which will protect the metal from accidental brush strokes. It is removed after the paint has completely dried, so as not to touch the freshly painted surface, the edges of which will reach for the adhesive tape. The holes for the lock are plugged with cotton.

Tip: If there is a glass insert or a stained-glass window, then the decorative element of complex shape is completely pasted over with adhesive tape, and the rectangular one is around the perimeter. Moreover, this must be done on both sides for the general painting of interior doors with your own hands.

Multi-layer painting of the door has long been morally obsolete, and it does not look aesthetically pleasing. Removal of old paint is done by several methods, for example, by heating with a blowtorch or a building hair dryer. And this is also an archaic way that experienced craftsmen do not use. The old layer was heated and removed with a sharp spatula, and what remained was cleaned with sandpaper. At the same time, the paint remained in small cracks and wood texture. Worst of all - a terrible smell of burnt paint, so they "cleaned" the doors on the street.

Today, a special liquid (wash) is used to remove paint, but it also has a specific smell, and not every paint will “take”. There are also recipes for homemade mixtures, for example, based on solvents and caustic soda. These compounds soften the old paint, and then it is easier to carefully remove it with a spatula - in the direction of the wood fibers.

A smooth door leaf is also processed with a grinder or a universal tool with a suitable nozzle. Next, they clean it with a fine-grained "skin". After that, all defects and recesses must be puttied, especially under glossy paint. Ideally, any painting requires a special primer that matches the type of paint chosen. Without a primer, it is impossible to uniformly coat new interior doors for painting even with very high-quality varnish or enamel.

Attention: The new paint must be compatible with the old coats and primer, otherwise it will react and ruin everything!

To repaint an old door you will need:

  • at least 1 liter of paint, for example, imported Tikkurila, and white spirit (another solvent);
  • 2-3 paint brushes of different widths;
  • an empty container with a lid for preparing a more liquid solution and a stirring stick;
  • roller with nozzles;
  • fine-grained emery;
  • soft sponge and cotton rags;
  • glue, screwdrivers, spatula, (for restoration);
  • masking tape;
  • old newspapers on the floor, so as not to stain with drops of paint;
  • pencil, metal ruler (another marking tool);
  • level and wooden blocks for leveling a horizontal surface.

Tip: The best way to get a flawless paint finish is to work on a level surface.

How to choose paint?

A creative approach when choosing a dye or varnish when painting interior doors also affects the final result.

1. Alkyd enamel is the most common and affordable. A rich palette makes it possible to choose the right shade for the interior. It gives high-quality painting in 1-2 layers. But, with all the advantages, it has a significant “minus”, a persistent smell, which “stays in the apartment for 2-3 days. Therefore, in a room for children and people sensitive to chemical components, only ready-made doors are recommended, which were previously painted in a separate room and had time to dry and weather.

2. Universal acrylic paint is suitable for home painting, because it does not have a persistent odor. But the cost of painting interior doors will be more expensive, especially in 2 layers. A rich palette and high-quality surface are the main advantages. But there is also a drawback - the paint is not very resistant to mechanical damage, therefore it is often fixed with acrylic-based varnish.

3. Of the domestic products for painting interior doors, the most famous is nitro paint. A smooth shiny layer is a high cost, but not everyone tolerates it with a smell. In the house, you can paint only in a respirator, with open doors or a balcony, in the absence of household members.

Tip: Do not rush to paint over a new door leaf with a wood texture. Perhaps covering with a colorless or colored varnish will be an excellent alternative. If 1 coat seems to be of insufficient quality, after complete drying, apply a second, more liquid coat of paint.

How to choose the type of paint? Use tips. Everyone decides what he likes, but it is important to know the properties of paints:

  • on top of 1 standing oil paint (on drying oil), latex paint can be applied, on water-based paint - acrylic enamel;
  • matte surfaces better hide fingerprints of children;
  • the glossy surface looks great, but all the defects of the door leaf are shown;
  • semi-gloss acrylic paint is suitable for all types of interior spaces (home, office), is not afraid of temperature changes during ventilation;
  • high-quality latex enamel is scratch resistant, but similar to the usual oil paint.

The door is prepared, what to do with the paint?

1. A can of paint is carefully opened with work gloves on an outstretched hand, it is undesirable to inhale fumes, a respirator is desirable.

2. Pour some of the paint into an empty jar, where it is easier to dilute it with a solvent (white spirit or others). Stir with a stick to the desired consistency, it is convenient to paint with a brush when it is like liquid sour cream.

3. For a smooth new surface, thinner paint spread by a roller will work. Too liquid enamel gives gaps, viscous - lumps, so a couple of strokes are made “for testing”, and then the viscosity is adjusted.

4. With a thin brush, slowly paint over hard-to-reach places around decorative overlays, milling places, glazing beads and panels. Smooth surfaces are quickly painted with a roller. It is possible that the paint will shine through, then a 2nd layer will be required, but it is in 2 layers that the highest quality painting is obtained.

5. Before picking up a little paint on a brush or roller, do not forget to mix it - heavy particles settle. They work with a roller in a horizontal and vertical direction, and with a hard wide brush - along the fibers.

6. After complete processing of one side of the door, leave it to dry completely. Then they turn over to the other side, paint over in exactly the same way, at the same time processing the ends. And it is desirable that the paint layer on the ends be as small as possible so that the door does not “stick” in the box.

7. It is necessary to work with a brush on wood along the fibers in order to minimally distort the texture. But smooth wood after painting will become rougher, because the fibers are swollen and ruffled. The second layer will “smooth” the fibers, or rather, fill the pits between them. It makes sense to sand the roughest places with sandpaper before re-painting.

8. Part of the grains and villi from the brush moves and sticks and is difficult to remove. It is advisable to sort out a new brush, fluff it, soak it in water, rinse it in a solvent and work a little on a control surface without paint.

9. Fittings and locks are installed after all surfaces have completely dried. If it is convenient - put the locks and handles after the door is already on the hinges.

10. When painting on hinges, paint from top to bottom, in a horizontal position - from the middle to the edges. A new smooth canvas can be quickly painted with a roller, leaning the door against the wall at a slight inclination.

Note: If interior doors are painted by a specialist, the price of the work is the time spent plus double the cost of the paint. Drying time can also be taken into account, so painting it yourself is much more economical.

Technology for painting interior doors - video at the end of the article.

Painting the door with wood varnish

Lacquer is a resinous transparent or translucent synthetic base based on resins, polymers and a solvent. Excellent for wood, and when the solvent evaporates, a beautiful latex layer is obtained, emphasizing the dignity of the pattern of natural wood fibers. Lacquering also performs a preservative function, protecting the wood from changes in humidity and temperature.

There are several varieties of varnish, for example, for outdoor and indoor use. According to the degree of light reflection (shine), wood varnish is distinguished as:

  • high gloss;
  • glossy;
  • semi-gloss;
  • semi-matt;
  • matt.

By type of basis, the most common:

  • alkyd;
  • acrylic;
  • alkyd-urea;
  • polymeric;
  • oil;
  • water based.

Colored varnish has a certain color (toning). But often the wood is stained and then varnished to improve the decorative properties of the door leaf. There is also furniture, parquet and universal varnish - ask the shops for instructions.

Original design techniques for updating an interior door

1. A combination of 2-3 colors involves painting the base color and finishing over the base. This is a beautiful technique, but one cannot do without skill, thin brushes and masking tape when it comes to painting overhead parts (molding).

2. The original drawing will perfectly decorate the kitchen or nursery, but it must comply with the overall design concept. The original technique is a landscape or a plot motif on the door.

3. An effective texture will be obtained by “imprinting” interesting surfaces:

  • jeans;
  • crinkled foil;
  • fur strokes;
  • coarse sponge.

4. Exclusive door decor - a solution you came up with if you have artistic skills and talent. This technique can be used on the eve of family holidays to surprise people dear to the heart. For example, a twisted heart in the form of a monogram with initials.

Surely, when building or repairing a house, you installed a high-quality, solid door made of natural wood. But over time, even she will lose her attractive appearance. This is not at all a reason to replace, because a wooden door is not at all difficult to paint on your own. The choice of color depends only on your desire, but you need to know the technology of painting and the subtleties of the process.

Features of the composition for painting

Whether you need to refurbish old doors or give new ones a different look, choosing the right paint product is essential. The quality and service life of a wooden door depends on it. Consider the most common means.

Varnishes - colored, glossy or matte. Their main property is that under a layer of substance, the structure of wood will definitely be visible. If you have completely restored the door, then varnishing is unlikely to work, since all defects and subtleties of processing will be visible. There are several varnish options:

  • based on oils;
  • alcohol varnish;
  • polyurethane;
  • solvent based nitro lacquer.

The latter type is not suitable for use on wood: the composition of such a varnish has a bad effect on wood. But polyurethane varnish is durable and resistant to mechanical damage, so it is perfect for our task, although it is quite expensive.

The choice of varnish or paint depends on the type of door and its location in the room.

If painting with varnish is not suitable for you, refer to paints. Their choice on the modern market is huge both in color and in composition, and it will not be difficult for you to give the door any look. Paints are matte, glossy or emphasizing the wood structure. The main thing is to pay attention to the basis on which the product is made - oil or alcohol. Also suitable and nitro paint.

There are also oils containing wax, designed for painting wooden surfaces. Such a tool can be transparent or colored, it will give the tree a soft silkiness. The disadvantage of this material is the high cost.

Compositions for different types of doors

When choosing a paint product, pay attention to the condition of the door leaf. As already mentioned, for an old door that had to be restored, a varnish coating is absolutely not suitable, under which the entire surface is visible. In this case, it is better to use paint. The varnish will look good on the new door.

The modern market offers a large selection of paints and varnishes for wooden doors.

The most commonly used in such works are 2 types of paints and varnishes.

  1. Acrylic compositions on a water-dispersion basis. They are easy to apply and fit well, as if covering the surface with a thin layer of plastic. When dry, there is no strong odor.
  2. Solvent-based alkyd paints and varnishes. When painting, they penetrate deep into the wood structure, dry quickly. Resistant to temperature fluctuations, have a water-repellent effect. The disadvantages include a pungent odor when dried.

Taking into account these points, we can conclude that acrylic compositions are well suited for interior doors and dry rooms. Alkyd paints are best used on front doors or in wet areas.

If you plan to paint the door in one color, then the choice of coloring material will be based on the above criteria. But in the presence of a door leaf with a design, take into account the following:


Please note: paint must be applied on a completely dry surface. Otherwise, the layer of paint on wet wood will begin to peel and flake off.

Preparing for the process

First of all, arm yourself with the necessary materials and tools so that during the work process you have everything at hand. You will need:

  • painting goats - 2 pcs. or 4 stools;
  • roller and bath for him;
  • putty knife;
  • wet rag;
  • sandpaper;
  • vacuum cleaner;
  • brush;
  • masking tape;
  • putty;
  • primer;
  • solvent;
  • paint or varnish;
  • flashlight for easy search for flaws on the door leaf.

The door structure consists not only of canvas, and most often it needs to be completely painted, otherwise the door will be very different in color from the lintel and jambs. Painting work can be carried out in two ways: in a horizontal or vertical position.

  1. In the first case, remove the door leaf from the hinges and lay it on the goats or stools. If you use an alkyd composition for painting, it is better to sit in the yard, on a balcony or terrace.
  2. In the second method, block the canvas without removing it with wedges. Make it so that the brush has free access to all elements of the door. The interlock will also keep the door open while it dries.

Try to dismantle all the hardware on the door

It will be more convenient to work with the canvas removed, but in some cases the second option is quite applicable. Do not forget to dismantle all fittings. If the hinges and handles are non-removable, they can be wrapped with paper and fixed with adhesive tape, or even better - wrapped in foil and ensure it fits snugly to the parts. Seal the lock mechanisms with adhesive tape in a fixed position.

Preliminary processing

This process is multi-stage, and it is very important for the subsequent work. It is from the correct preparation of the surface of the door that it depends on how evenly the paint will lie on it and how long it will hold. Prepare according to the standard scheme.


Please note: in order to repair deep dents under opaque paint, you can use auto-filler, it does not contain fiberglass. And if natural solid wood has darkened over time under paint or varnish, you can lighten it with a solution of 1 part chlorine bleach in 3 parts water.

After you have prepared the door for further work, wipe it, removing dust and small debris, dry thoroughly and proceed to painting.

Painting technologies

When painting the door, you can use both a brush and a roller. The brush may leave streaks and streaks. Therefore, before work, fluff it properly to get rid of loose and poorly fixed hairs, and during painting, move the brush along and across the surface to smooth out bumps.

If you are using a roller, use it to roll out the paint well so that it lays in a thin layer. Do not press the roller too hard during the process, and roll it over the surface with light, even movements.

The surface of the door will not be painted evenly the first time, the wood will absorb most of the paint. Re-staining will be required, and possibly more than one.

It is very important to pre-clean the white door from dirt and dust.

This method is great if you want to paint your door white. The main thing is to clean the surface with special care so that no dirt or dust remains on it.

simple door leaf

This is the easiest job, so we'll cover it first. However, you need to be careful not to leave noticeable stains and smudges on the door.

For such work, you can purchase a special sprayer: it will greatly facilitate the process. But for painting one or two doors, the purchase of such a device would be financially inexpedient. Therefore, you can easily get by with a roller and a panel brush.

The color scheme depends on the type of door structure.

  1. The shield door is painted in 3 steps. The easiest way is to use a roller for this: it will evenly apply paint and leave no hairs. Start covering from the upper left corner of the door, moving to the right side. When the canvas is finished painting to the end, leave it to dry for as long as the instructions for the coloring agent require. The second stage of coloring is carried out in the longitudinal direction, the third - in the opposite direction from the first one.
  2. For a paneled door, it is better to use a brush. Walk it along the recesses in the canvas, while trying to avoid excess paint. Finish painting with a roller, using the diagram for a panel door.

Stain painting

If you decide to paint your door with stain, prepare it and lightly dampen it. Thus, moisture will not be absorbed into the wood, and the dye will lie evenly, despite the liquid consistency. Everything that is located horizontally, paint first along the fibers, then across, and at the end of the work again in the longitudinal direction.

If you decide to paint the door in a vertical position and did not remove it from the hinges, start covering the jambs and the canvas from below so that splashes do not fall on the unpainted surface. This is especially important if you plan to varnish the door.

The wood fibers straighten out, having absorbed the water-soluble stain. After the first coat has dried, sand the surface with a sandpaper, clean and re-stain.

After drying, the wooden surface will become lighter than when stained. To make the color more juicy, apply the dye several times.

Alcohol stain does not straighten wood fibers, so you do not have to sand the door after applying it. In addition, it dries in half an hour. But water-soluble stain is more popular because it is considered safer and non-toxic.

wood look

This method is applicable on any surface. As for wood, on old doors that have been subjected to deep restoration, it may also be necessary to apply a pattern that is as close as possible to a pronounced natural one.

There is another way to imitate a wood pattern on the door. To do this, you need a special brush, which can be bought at a hardware store. Soft wood fibers are processed with such a brush with movements similar to combing. Due to changes in the structure, curls will spontaneously appear, creating the illusion of wood. After the surface has dried, it must be sanded.

How to paint a wooden door - video

The loss of the original aesthetic appeal of a wooden door is not a reason to part with it. Why waste savings in vain if all options for its restoration are available to craftsmen who are ignorant of the intricacies of woodworking. It is certainly difficult to master the secrets of the craftsmanship of cabinetmakers in a couple of days, but painting wooden doors will not cause difficulties. However, there are nuances in this simple matter, without knowing which it is difficult to achieve an ideal result.

How will we paint our wooden door?

The choice of compositions for staining wood is very extensive. First of all, let's decide whether it is desirable to preserve and highlight the natural beauty of a natural array or whether it is required to completely hide the texture pattern by covering it with a continuous opaque layer. Considering your own taste preferences, pay attention to:

  • opaque enamels and coloring compositions with acrylic, polyurethane, alkyd, perchlorovinyl and outdated oil bases, which are already rarely found in domestic products;
  • transparent and tinted varnishes, oil impregnations, wood stains, refreshing the color of wood or giving new shades.

We will not talk about taste priorities. Let's just listen to the advice of experienced painters who recommend home craftsmen to purchase:

  • acrylic dyes with a water base, because they have an optimal consistency for working with a brush, excellent spreadability and decent hiding power, somewhat inferior to oil paints;
  • alkyd paint products, characterized by high water repellency, resistance to temperature fluctuations and drying speed.

Important. All dyes with a base of alkyd resin are applied only on a completely dry surface. If the wood is wet, the paint layer will peel and flake due to air bubbles formed underneath.

Those who want to figure out how to paint a wooden door guessed without a doubt that painting is done in several stages. Often with the use of two different formulations. First, an impregnation with or without a tinting effect is used, then a decorative coating is applied. It is important to choose compositions that work flawlessly in tandem. For example, drying oil is not applicable before varnishing. Only stain!

Even if it is decided to refresh the color of the canvas and jambs exclusively with stain or oil impregnation, one layer is not enough. Two or three stages are to be carried out, the surface will tell. You will have to paint as many times as necessary for the perfect result.

The sequence of the painting process

Since the list of components of the door structure includes not only the canvas, the stage that precedes all the action is the competent preparation of the object. You can, of course, limit yourself to painting only the canvas, but then the jambs with the lintel will be different. So, home craftsmen who decide to paint the doors with their own hands need to do this:

  • remove the door frame from the hinges and lay it on two stools, a work table or goats. If a caustic alkyd composition is planned to be used, it is advisable to sit in the yard, on the terrace or balcony;
  • Without removing the door leaf, block it with wedges so that the panel brush has access to all elements of the door. Blocking is also needed so that the door does not accidentally close during the drying period, and the dye layer is not irreparably damaged.

It is recommended to remove the canvas, but if it is impossible to follow the rules, then the second option is applicable. The fittings also need to be dismantled. In a hopeless case with non-removable loops, handles should be wrapped with paper and fixed with adhesive tape, but it is better to wrap it with foil with a tight fit of all parts. It is better to fix the lock mechanisms and seal them with tape.

Wood surface preparation

The most significant multi-step process that requires diligence in order for the coloring to give the desired result. We will prepare according to the following standard scheme:

  • First, we will remove all layers of paint, primer and putty materials to the wood. Those who are not afraid of dust and dirt can use a grinder or a home-made device made from a handy bar with a medium-grained sandpaper glued or nailed to the working side. It is easier for owners of building hair dryers, they will heat up and remove the bubbling paint with a spatula. There is also a simple, but costly way - special washes for wood.
  • Then we are waiting for the initial grinding, as a result of which small dents, paint residues and scratches are eliminated. We grind with a machine connected to a vacuum cleaner, or in a simple way with sandpaper with a medium grain.
  • We putty major flaws by purchasing a putty corresponding to wood for this, if it is planned to cover the door with a transparent composition: oil, stain, varnish. If we paint with opaque enamel, it is not necessary to select the color of the putty. Do not forget about the gaps between the decorative elements of the canvas and the canvas itself, between the jamb and the lintel.
  • Withstood the period indicated by the putty manufacturer in the manual, and re-grind with sandpaper. First, we use a nozzle on a typewriter or a simple abrasive skin with a medium grain, at the finish we use a fine-grained analogue.

Advice. Deep dents under opaque paint can be repaired with auto-filler, which does not contain fiberglass.

Note. Darkened under a layer of old paint or varnish, a natural array can be slightly bleached with a mixture of one part bleach and bleach with three parts water.

Everything was processed, cleaned from the old varnish or paint, from the protruding putty. Vacuum, wipe with a damp cloth, dry, proceed to staining.

We paint the door without special effects

That is, at the beginning of the creative path of the future phenomenal painter and cabinet maker, we will not get carried away with artificial aging. We will not create the impression of photo wallpaper or a painted array with uncovered structural lines. At the initial stage, we will learn how to evenly paint the door without frozen smudges and spots visible under the varnish.

How to paint with a sprayer, the video will demonstrate:

If only one or two doors are to be painted, it is not cost-effective to purchase a sprayer. Stock up on a narrow paneled brush for a canvas with the same name and a roller for canvases of all types.

Note. The brush must be fluffed before the start of the working process, all loosely fixed hairs must be helped to crawl out and leave.

Let's decide on the type of construction and the staining scheme depending on it:

  • The shield door is painted in three steps. It is more practical to use a roller, it will ensure uniformity and will not leave hairs. Let's start covering from the end, more precisely from the upper left corner of the canvas, directing the movements to the right side. So we paint the canvas to the very end, and dry for as many hours as the manufacturer requires. The second staining step is carried out in the longitudinal direction, and the third in the opposite direction to the initial stage.
  • Let's start painting the paneled door with a brush. We will go through the recesses in the canvas with it, trying to avoid an overabundance of paint. Finish painting with a roller, following the steps listed above.

What to do if you decide to paint with stain?

The door prepared for painting should be slightly moistened, then the wood will not absorb moisture and the dye with a very liquid consistency will lie flat. Everything that is located horizontally with a stain will be painted first along the fibers, then in the transverse direction, and again longitudinally at the finish.

We will begin to cover the jambs and the canvas that has not been removed from the hinges from below so that drops and splashes of dye do not fall on unpainted areas. This is what we do if we open the door with varnish. If the finish is an opaque composition, dark drops will not interfere at all.

After treatment with a water-soluble stain, the wood fibers that have absorbed moisture straighten out. It will be necessary to sand them with a sandpaper-zero after the first layer has dried. Then we clean it from dust and cover it again.

Note. The dried wood surface after painting is lighter than during the application of the dye. Achieve juiciness of color by repeated opening.

Alcohol stain will not stimulate the straightening of the fibers. You don’t have to sand the door after processing it and it dries in half an hour. However, its water-soluble counterpart is considered a safer, absolutely non-toxic dye, and therefore more popular.

How to create wood imitation

You can imitate a wood pattern literally on any material, for this:

  • we paint the canvas with yellow, light gray or light beige paint and dry it to the condition specified by the manufacturer of the coloring composition;
  • with a brush we cover the entire area to be treated with liquid soap;
  • we apply a layer of dark paint that is pleasant to us and wash off the liquid soap.

For home crafters who want to learn how to paint a wood effect veneered door or a plywood look on a budget, there is another way. To implement the idea, you will need a specific brush, which is now available in hardware stores. With movements similar to combing, we will process soft fibers with this brush. We paint the treated surface with dyes of different colors. Due to changes in the structure, curls will spontaneously appear, creating the illusion of wood. After drying, sand the surface.

Observing the rules, you can paint or varnish the door yourself without any problems. There will definitely not be any special complications along the course. Since the canvas has two sides, it is better to start trial strokes from the “wrong side”. Fill your hand, in a similar way it will be possible to restore not only doors, but also cabinets, and other wooden and veneered furniture.

In order to paint wooden doors with high quality, it is necessary to understand that this procedure does not imply saving time and material. All work must be carried out initially correctly, in compliance with all stages. Only such a position allows you to transform an old canvas or give the desired look to new details. All nuances must be calculated in advance to eliminate unpleasant consequences.

To obtain the desired result, as well as to create a reliable and durable coating, it is necessary to choose the right paint for wooden doors. It should be noted that there are two main compositions that are used for such work - varnish and paint. In this case, both substances can be used together.

Each coloring composition has its own characteristics:

  1. Varnish. Currently, there are several main varieties of this material: colored, glossy and matte. It should be borne in mind that such compositions do not allow hiding surface defects. That is, the structure of the wood remains visible, which significantly limits the scope. Lacquer is an excellent option when it comes to new elements that do not have traces of preparation (putty, putty). If it is assumed that work will be done on finishing old doors, then the varnish is used as a protective coating, but is not the basis. It is important to pay attention to the composition of the material: it can be solvent or oil based. The first option is better not to use for woodworking, it can cause damage to the wood.
    Lacquer is used not only to create a decorative coating, but also creates a protective layer.


    On a note! Many masters advise choosing polyurethane varnish. It has sufficient stability and strength, which is a very important feature for such events.

  2. Dye. This composition is distinguished by the fact that it allows you to choose the desired shade that is suitable for a particular interior. It is important to consider that painting a wooden door can be done with materials that give a glossy, matte and translucent effect. When choosing a paint, you should immediately determine the composition of the material: the base should be oil or alcohol. A good solution can be considered nitro paint, which has excellent characteristics and makes it possible to paint the door white. But it is important to consider that this composition has a pungent odor that disappears in only a few days.

    When choosing a paint for a door, it is necessary to ensure that the container with the material has the inscription “For wood”

  3. There is another interesting substance - wax oil. This product allows you to give the surface a very interesting glossy (silk) shade. Troop-based oil compositions have different shades, which allows them to be successfully combined.

    On a note! It is important to consider that applying wax oil is not the easiest process. To achieve the desired coverage, you need to correctly distribute the material.

    So what is the best way to paint an interior wooden door? There is a lot of advice about this, but alkyd enamel is considered the most preferred material. Such a colorful composition has excellent qualities that are perfect for this type of work. First, it is low cost. It is much less than other materials. Secondly, the substance lays down quite evenly, which is necessary for home use. Thirdly, the paint is odorless and has a wide range of shades.


    Alkyd enamel from different manufacturers

    The principle of staining wooden doors

    Do-it-yourself painting of wooden doors is divided into several stages, which are interconnected. It should be borne in mind that any negligence will immediately affect the final form of wood parts.

    It all starts with the preparation of the right tools and materials. No special equipment is required for operation.

    You need to purchase the following:

  • Screwdriver (set of screwdrivers). It will be needed in order to remove all unnecessary details from the canvas.
  • Sandpaper of different grits. The product is convenient to use if you install it on a bar. It is possible to use a grinding machine.
  • . Such a composition can be made independently.
  • Primer. It is used to increase the adhesion of materials.
  • Spatulas. You need a small tool to get the job done.
  • Roller and a set of brushes of different widths. The roller should not be foam rubber.

Materials and tools needed to paint the door

On a note! It is preferable to use an airbrush to apply the paint composition. It allows you to complete the work in a short time, distributing the material with the highest quality. But it requires special conditions for application. It is important to consider that it is irrational to purchase such equipment for one-time work.

Preparatory stage

How to paint wooden doors qualitatively? To obtain the actual desired coverage, special attention must be paid to the preparation process.

On a note! Many mistakenly believe that when buying a new, unpainted door, no preparatory measures are needed. In fact, it all depends on the specific situation, so you should check with the seller: what has already been done. But it would be much better to assess the situation yourself.


Painting wood doors

After the previous manipulations are fully completed, you can proceed to the main procedures. They are:


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