How to restore heavily scratched door?

Question

Hi,

My dog has scratched and damaged my laundry door. I need some help on how to go about restoring it.

Will I need to sand the door and if so I have a Bosch PEX 400 AE sanding machine, what grit will i need to use?

I have some leftover paint for the door, can i use it straight away after sanding?

I plan to replace the door stopper are there any recommendations? If I decide to remove it how can I patch up the hole in the door?

Thanks You

DarkBaron · Answer

Thanks @MitchellMc I will give that a go. I'll post pics when complete!

MitchellMc · Answer

Hi @DarkBaron,

The good news is that this looks quite repairable.

I'd start by giving the entire face of the door a sand with 240-grit using your Bosch PEX 400 AE. Focus on feathering out the damaged area so the transition between the exposed MDF and the existing paint is smooth. Run your hand over the repair area as you go. You shouldn't be able to feel a lip between the painted and sanded sections.

If you're planning to relocate or remove the door stopper, fill the existing hole with a suitable wood filler like

https://www.bunnings.com.au/timbermate-250g-pine-wood-filler_p1560693

, allow it to dry thoroughly, then sand it flush with the surrounding surface.

Before painting, I'd recommend applying a couple of coats of

https://www.bunnings.com.au/dulux-1l-1step-prep-primer-sealer-undercoat_p1370232

over the repaired areas (or the whole door if you've sanded it back extensively). Once the primer is dry, apply your topcoat. Dulux Aquanamel is a great choice for interior doors as it provides a durable, hard-wearing finish. Alternatively, if the paint you have is enamel, either water-based or oil-based, that would be fine too.

Let me tag, @drewsky01, @reno-abc and @justcalljacko, to see if they have any thoughts.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell