( 1398094 )

In our previous blogs, we talked about the importance of front doors as they welcome not only your guests’ or potential buyers’ eyes but also onlookers as well. In this article, we will be focusing more on internal doors, and how to freshen up your internal door like a pro. Why? Internal doors are not standalone structures; they should go well with your home’s overall character and feel. If you have a panelled wood door in need of a bit of freshening up, then this article may just be the right one for you.

Gather all of your materials in one place.

It is always important to have all of your materials ready to ensure efficiency in your work. This will help you finish quickly and move more at ease. Here are some essentials you may need for this activity:

  1. Paint and paintbrush (around 1 ½ inch in width)
  2. Paint roller and tray
  3. Primer 
  4. Painters tape
  5. Medium-grit sandpaper
  6. Wood filler
  7. Sugar soap and warm water
  8. Old cloth/sponge
  9. Sawhorses, if available
  10. Screwdrivers
  11. New locks and latches (optional)

You might also want to check out: Do-it-yourself Restoration: Restoring Your Period Front Door At Home

Remove all hardware from the door.

You should remove all locks, latches, or other fixtures attached to your door. Unscrew them and remember how you uninstalled them as you will need to put them back later. You would want to expose all the wood to have wider access to all the parts. If possible, remove the door from its hinges and lay it on sawhorses. This will make your work much easier.

Clean the door.

Dilute the sugar soap in warm water, then soak your sponge or cloth into the warm water. Use this to wipe down all dirt and grime from all parts of the door. The warm temperature of the water will help with the removal of dirt. Dry it out with a dry cloth or sponge.

Prepare your door.

This is your chance to get rid of all the imperfections you see on your door. Sand down previous paint and flatten uneven surfaces. For cracks, holes, or other dents that need to be filled up: use the wood filler and wait until dry. Sand it down once again to get rid of the excess filler. Cover parts of the door you do not want to be painted over by using painters tape, such as glass panels.

Prime your door.

Priming your door is especially important when you are starting with bare wood, stained wood, or simply changing from a darker to a relatively lighter colour. This will help you achieve the desired colour without having to apply too many coats of paint.

Paint your door.

When painting a panelled door, make sure to start with the panels, then proceed with the midsections and sides. Follow the direction of the wood fibre for each section. Use a paint roller for flatter surfaces and a paintbrush for intricate details. Wait for each coat to dry before applying the next, and then wait until the paint is fully dry before reattaching the hardware and the door back to its frame.

Brush stroke directions for panelled wooden doors

You might also be interested in: Painting A Metal Door To Look Like A Beautiful Antique Wooden Door

Pieter Boyce - Wooden Window and door specialist

Pieter Boyce
Wooden Window and Door Specialist

This article was written on behalf of Fortis & Hooke by Pieter Boyce. Pieter has an intense passion for English Architectural history and has been specialising in the conservation of original wooden windows and doors for decades. His exceptional knowledge of timber windows and doors, both listed or non-listed, is attributed to his hands-on approach to learning all aspects of the complete restoration of original features as well as having personally surveyed thousands of items throughout his long tenure as a head surveyor for one of the largest window and door restoration companies in the UK. He now runs a boutique wooden window and door consultancy and fervently champions the retention of original windows and doors. To learn more of Pieter’s services, visit his website at www.boultonboyce.co.uk.

Free estimate Paid professional survey