Painting Door Frames: Essential Preparation Tips and Techniques

Painting door frames is an art and requires a certain timeline for planning to execute it correctly. A door frame could be a hard or smooth surface; if you paint it, you should know the entire process from start to end. You may need a bare minimum of effort for an interior door made up of materials like wood that has existing paint, but it requires the right action and prep.

Anybody can paint a door frame, but doing so with proper planning, in terms of using the right material, applying the top coat, the painting process, understanding how long it should take to get completely dry, and other aspects, requires professional assistance.

This article provides insight into painting door frames to help you get a better idea and start painting. This would encourage you to make your entire frame of the door look classy and shiny for the long term.

How to Prepare a Door Frame for Painting?

The very first step is to prepare your door frame. This is because, once you begin with the door frame, it will keep paint off your freshly painted door.

Choose any color to paint the frame; that gives contrasting colors to the space. You can even go for the same color door frame painting. However, painting the frame a color that contrasts with the wall will make it stand out.

However, you can paint it the same colour as the wall and door to make it fit in. If you have a narrow room with several doors, low ceilings, or a small room, painting the frame to blend in will make the space appear larger. Follow the steps below to prepare for door frame painting:

• Keep the surrounding area of the door frame protected. You can do this by wrapping masking tape or decorator's tape around the door frame to protect your wall from paint. You can even place a piece of paper around the floor or dust sheet to keep the floor clean.

• Dust the door frame, getting into every crevice, including the latch space. You don't want dust to harm your finish, so keep the door in its upright position.

• Wash the frame with sugar soap to remove any grime and grease that has accumulated. Using soapy water can help the door frame stay clean, get flat surfaces, and have a smooth finish.

• If you find any old flaking paint on the door frame, remove it using a flat scraper. If the paint is not flaking, you can use sand lightly over the door frame to provide a smooth surface for the paint to cling to.

• Give the door frame one more wipe down to eliminate any remaining dust and allow it to dry.

• Finally, apply masking tape to the door hinges and undo the metal latch in the doorframe. All these can help to clean away all the debris and make the surface clean.

How to Paint Door Frames?

Since you have prepared your door frame for the paint purpose, it's time for you to paint the same. How many layers of paint the door needs depends on the type of door; if you are changing the colour of the door frame, you will need an undercoat paint. You will need at least more than a week for the coat to get dry. Before you start painting, you will need the right tools ready.

• Small paintbrush

• Primer

• Undercoat Paint

• Fine sandpaper

• A lint-free cloth

• Masking tape

Here are the steps.

Clean the Surface

Before you start the painting work, wipe off the door frame with a smooth surface cloth to remove settled dust. If there are any grease or stain marks on the frame, use detergent to clean the area. This will allow you to paint the door frame without any issues.

Take the Door off the Hinges

You can perform this step before or after cleaning the door frame. Take the door from each side and forcefully raise it to remove the door from the wall hinges. Set the door aside so that it will not be damaged or painted.

Applying Sandpaper

Use fine sandpaper to smooth out the rough sections with fine-grit sandpaper or to remove the old paint. Sanding generates a slightly rough surface that allows the primer and paint to adhere better. Once done with the sanding thing, you can use a dry or slightly moist cloth to remove dust from the base.

Apply Primer

Using a high-quality wood primer protects the surface, improves paint adherence, and keeps stains off the door frame. Apply an even coat with a brush or a roller. To ensure a long-lasting and professional finish, allow the primer to dry according to the manufacturer's directions before applying paint.

Use Tape for Edges

Using painter's tape will help protect your walls and nearby surfaces. Moreover, it will give sharp and clean lines.

Paint with Care

To achieve precise, uniform strokes, use a high-quality brush or small roller. This will help in getting the proper base coat and the final desired finish. Begin at the edges and progress to the center. Apply thin coats rather than thick ones to avoid drips and stains. Allow each coat to dry completely before applying the next to provide a smooth and perfect finish.

Allow Proper Drying

It is important to keep the door dry before you handle the door frame and go for a second coat. To speed up the drying process and avoid smudges, ensure appropriate ventilation. Don't touch the surface of the door until it is completely dry. Once dry, check for any touch-ups required for a glossy appearance.

Key Takeaways

Painting the door frame demands your time and investment in the right tools. To paint an entire door frame, you need enough time to get the best result. Once you are done with the painting work, you will get the desired finish, which will give a good contrast to your space. Using the right paint and tools and following the right techniques will help in having a long-lasting impression among onlookers. You can check out some of the top-quality door frames online to get an idea of how to shine them with the right coloring.

FAQs on Painting Door Frames

Below are a few answers to questions that can further help you have a good door frame painting.

1) Do I need to sand the door frame before painting?

Ans: Yes, applying white sandpaper is vital before you paint the door frame. This helps in keeping the surface smooth so you can paint the door well.

2) What is the best paint for door frames?

Ans: You can go for semi-gloss or durable paint for the door frames. These work best against moisture and are easy to clean on the door frame.

3) Can you use normal paint on door frames?

Ans: Normal paint may cost you less, but it doesn't guarantee durability and resistance. So the best is to apply enamel paint that can withstand all weather and is easy to clean.