How to Prep Interior Door Panels for Paint

Doors are a focal point of any room, and painting them can dramatically improve how the room's decor looks, particularly if the doors have been used and abused. You can paint the door panels with the door still hanging or removed. If you find it hard to sand and paint unsteady objects or if you're concerned about paint runs, removing the door is the better option.

Phillips head screwdriver
2 sawhorses
4 long screws
Hand sander
80-grit sandpaper
220-grit sandpaper
Tinted stain-blocking primer
Paint and paint brush

Instructions

- 1
  Unscrew the hinges from the door using the Phillips head screwdriver.
- 2
  Place the door on the sawhorses. Suspend the door by inserting two long screws at each end of the door.
- 3
  Wipe the door panels with warm water and a rag to remove dirt and debris. Cleaning the door before you sand and prime it will reduce the risk of putting scratches on the surface.
- 4
  Hand-sand the panels with 80-grit sandpaper to smooth out the surface.
- 5
  Hand-sand the panels with 220-grit sandpaper so the sanding marks won't show under the final coat.
- 6
  Wash the door with soap and warm water to remove any sawdust that would affect the appearance of the final coat of paint.
- 7
  Apply the tinted stain-blocking primer with a paint brush. A gray-tinted primer provides a better color to the finish coat and ensures good coverage of the finish coat. Primer also prevents stains and discoloration, and the finishing coat sticks better to a primed surface.
- 8
  Hand-sand the panels lightly with 220-grit sandpaper after the primer is dry.
- 9
  Apply a finishing coat of the paint you chose for the panel color.

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Indoor House Painting