Painting A Panel Door While On The Hinges

Excess paint causes visible drips.

Painting a panel door while on the hinges.

Clean your front door by washing it down with a wet rag. If you re painting a door that s already been installed and functioning your first decision is whether you want to paint the door while it s installed or remove it from the hinges and paint it un installed. Clean and prep the door. This will get rid of any dust dirt or bugs that are stuck.

Remove your door hardware. Work up from the inside bottom across the header and down the striker side. You can if you re cautious also lay the door on a drop cloth on the floor. You could tape it off with painter s tape but really to do it right you want to remove your.

I prefer to remove it and then place it in a space where it s easier to maneuver but it s totally up to you. When painting a paneled door begin with the recessed panels then the horizontal rails and. If your door has windows mask off the edges of the glass. Give a light sanding to the entire door to give the paint a rough surface to grip.

To paint a flat door start by painting the inside hinge edge working around the door in one direction. Place the door flat on the sawhorses. More interior door painting tips. Paint over the area and you won t have to worry as much about getting paint on the hinges.

Depending on the condition of any old paint you might need to strip it down too. Lay the door you are working on across two sawhorses or another other type of support to keep it horizontal. Begin by painting the edges with a brush. You can still paint a paneled door while it is hanging but you run the risk of drips particularly out of the corners of the panels.

Use a brush for this narrow space for better control. To remove the door wedge a flathead screwdriver or chisel in the joint between the hinge and the top of the hinge pins.