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How to Paint a Panel Door
Diagram.1.
Tips:
Use mouse over text to enlarge.Paint door in alphabetical order as in the diagram.
- A. Top edge of door.
- B. Side edges of door.
- C. Panel moulding.c
- D. Panel area.
- A. Top edge of door.
- E. Vertical areas(muntins) between panels.
- F. Top horizontal areas(transom) over panels.
- G. Middle horizontal areas between panels.
- H. Bottom horizontal areas under panels.
- I. Long vertical on hinge side of door.
- J. Long vertical on lock side of door.
Wedge door open with two flat sticks; a wooden or rubber wedge; or a rolled up newspaper. If using a wooden wedge be careful not to kick it out afterwards as this can split the bottom edge of the door.
Put cardboard or newspapers under the door to protect floor or carpet.
If possible remove all handles, locks and other fittings (excepting hinges) from the door as this will make painting easier.
When you remove handles and locks dust behind thoroughly and blow out the dust from the lock cavity as this can easily end up in your paint. New doors often have sawdust in the lock cavity.
Brushes required: 1 x 1" (25mm) and 1 x 2"(50mm), (optional: 3"(75mm) if preferred)
See Diagram.1.- Using the smaller brush carefully paint the top edge if necessary( an outward opening door or a top edge that can be seen from the stairs).
- Check for paint runs on both sides.
- Paint hinge edges on doors opening into a room or outwards to the exterior.
- Paint latch/lock edges with other side of door.
- Paint moulding C on first panel with small brush.
- Paint panel D1 with larger brush.
- Paint all panels in sequence from top to bottom, irrespective of the numbers of on the door. Doors often have 4, 6 or 8 panels.
- Using bigger brush paint top muntin E.
- Using 2" brush paint top transom F.
- Paint bottom muntin E.
- Continue and paint middle transom G.
- And then bottom transom H.
- Paint stile I , assuming hinge edge.
- If stile J is on the lock side, then carefully cut round any door furniture(eg door handle) before painting the rest of the stile.
- When painting each part of the door, work from the top downwards, leaving off with the last stroke of your brush upwards. This helps prevent runs.
How to Paint a Panel Door. Click buttons to follow sequence.
Tips:
- Keep checking back for runs especially in gloss paint.
- Most likely places for runs to develop are the bottom corners of panels and across the top moulding of panels.
- Check build-up of paint in the corners of panels by dabbing with the tips of the brush bristles (like the action of throwing a dart, but obviously much gentler).
- Always try and remove runs by using an upward motion of the brush but where there is a marked cross grain, leave off in the direction of the grain.