How can I change the door colour ?

Hi @mmd22

Well your door looks like it is in good condition all you need to do is sand the varnish on the door with 540 Grit sand paper this will clean any dirt off at the same time giving the new paint of any type to bond too, take your door hardware off first for best results or mask up the door handles etc.as like what you must have done for the interior doors that look nice.

But if you want to lighten the front door color varnished appearance I think the fastest way is to sand the door back to bare natural wood this would be easiest done taken off the hinges and put on another table or tressels. Best to use machine sander palm , or general orbital should do start with 240 grit. faster start 90 grit but beware this is agressive paper.

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/24511#Comment_24511

Hi @Jewelleryrescue

Thank you so much for your advice .

Should I Prime the door first before painting ?

I have a Orbital circular hand sander , I am planning to use that but I do not want to take the door off from hinges as it is very heavy .

Do you have any suggestion for water based or oil based ? I think my other doors are Dulux water based( as previous owner left some old paint ) .

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/74902#Comment_74902

Hi @mmd22

To answer your question quickly use Acrylic under coat and also acrylic top coats x 2 or 3 min. Any good paint brand is fine if your door is exposed to sun and or weather blowing in try use a brush to paint under the door edge to seal that area also use outdoor arcylic paints UV safe

Now the history of paint I when over board with some detail so just read the bits you didnt know. 🙂

Modern acrylic paints are the better way to go as they have low odour and they dry faster and wear quite well and come in matt semi and full gloss some acrylic paints say they dont need an under coat.

But I might guide you to using an arcylic water based sealer/undercoat for several reasons (any major brand.)

1 the door is a dark color and may alter your color selection shading slightly darker.

2 the sealer will help hide minor defects hidden to the eye

3 the door varnish even sanded may resist new paint from sticking.

for one door you would use less than 500Ml but I think they only come in 1 litre .well good for next project start left over under coat. You should be able to buy top coat in 500ml and save some money as paint very expensive these days,

As its your front door you will need to try do it in sensible stages so you can close your door at nights.

First stage sand the door while on it hinges I hear you as to is heavy weight. Only start painting in the morning 10 am as a guide as this will give acrylic time to touch dry approximatly 1 hours. Some paints will allow you to recoat in 2 hours so you can do 2 coats one day. Close door when touch dry at night between coats at need. A quick touch with your hand will tell you paint is dry. Summer months may speed up drying time. Sand door very lightly and sparingly with wet and dry sand paper 1200 grit use the sand paper wet. Feel the door with you hand until the micro (sand/dirt?) comes off.

I would use a small artist paint brush 10 mm wide to paint neatly around the hinges a small paint brush around the edges near the floor etc and a small foam roller for the larger door surface.

Soak your brushes and roller in a old container over night filled with water to cover bristles only most of the paint will fall out of brush tip water /paint into bin so small paint balls not in ocean. Dry brush and roller with paper towel so most of the water in the brush roller is out other wise paint will run out of brush.

Have ready a drop sheet under the door and area but if any small paint drops flick some where have a wet cloth on immediate stand by to mop up acrylic paint splashes ASAP So much easier than scraping them later.

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/74902#Comment_74902

Hi @mmd22,

It's wonderful to see that @Jewelleryrescue has been assisting. You might also like to take a look at Dulux 1L PRECISION Maximum Strength Adhesion Primer White, as it's perfect for not having to fully sand back difficult-to-paint surfaces. I'd recommend two coats of the primer before two coats of your topcoat if you're going for a lighter colour finish. Varnishing can tend to bleed through single layers of primer with lighter topcoats.

As @Jewelleryrescue mentioned, water-based enamel paints are the way to go. They offer all the same protection as oil-based paint but without the yellowing, fumes and difficult cleanup. Typically I like to go with Dulux Aquanamel.

Here's a helpful step-by-step guide on How to paint a front door.

Please let us know if you have further questions.

Mitchell

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/101109#Comment_101109

Hello @Jewelleryrescue

Thank you so much for you detail advice . I really appreciate your advice .

These information will help me a lot .

I actually have 2 door to paint ( front and back entrance ) so 1 L Primer would be be enough I hope . I saw you recommended foam roller but just wondering is Microfibre roller going to ok as I have few small size microfibre roller from last project .

Thank you

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/101110#Comment_101110

@MitchellMc Thank you so much for your input .

You helped me a lot on my last project . I am going to use water based paint so will go ahead with Dulux aquanamel. How much sanding should I do If i use 2 coats of Primer ? should i do too much sanding at all ? What would your recommendation for sandpaper grit to get the job done easily ?

Thank you

KatieC

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/117471#Comment_117471

Hi @mmd22,

These are really great questions, @MitchellMc will be back online on Friday to further assist. In the meantime, let me tag @homeinmelbourne, @Renowayoflife, and @Nham to see if they are able to lend some advice and check out this great article do you need to sand before painting.

Katie

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/117470#Comment_117470

Hi @mmd22

I actually I think microfiber roller sounds like a great for a fine smooth high gloss finish and washable at the end of the project. I suggested foam roller as it is short and easy to use on a door without loading up paint on a full roller size plus the shorter roller a little easier to handle close to floor edge and around door edges. Usually the foam or miro fiber roller comes with a cute little paint loading tray of its own as to make paint loading easier and less wasteful.

Roller vs brush on a door ultimatly all about the finished texture your door will look like and the ease of painting the edges and around door knob and fine details a roller cant do. I dont mind the brush strokes in my paint work made by a brush it makes me happy you pick you favorite finish probably matching your other paint work. Full size rollers cover more area faster for a wall and a roof this is a must. ( also full house invest in an electric spray painter) The rollers will give you typically a finer finish if this is what you desire, But you can go 10mm wool nap (typically used for rough surfaces)on a roller and that will give you a textured finish like little clouds kissing your door not really visually apparent but its there. You can even use a sea sponge for other effects especially two tone features.

Any thing can be used to paint with is all about the final finish and the ease and efficancy of applying paint in a Small tight or bigger area.

Dentists use toothbrushes ( Xmas Furphy)

Sanding @KatieC has kindly added a few references to sanding advice one of them is do you need to sand before painting.

Oh I should mention hand sand lightly between coats as machines to agressive.

@mmd22 You asked about sanding and is it necessary vs just undercoat which is a great question by the way.

It is always good to sand a surface you are about to paint as it provides micro scratches for new paint to bond to while removing older paint micro layer and loose bits like fine dust. You have a sander a quick 10 min sand per door will help keep your new paint from being rubbed off by people brushing by, Point A The sander takes of the high points the under coat (and paint) fills the micro valleys As mentioned sand between all coats once they are touch dry basically repeating point A. Dont forget to wipe the door down with a damp cloth to take your sanding dust off and your surrounding walls and skirting boards

Another way too look at it is if you miss a 10 min step , This may take years of life off your project life and you maybe concerned a step was missed when ever you look at a project We here all know the satisfaction of a job well done we only want the same for you.

I bought a pair of draws in a grey finish and put a custom made set of under desk draws between them with the outer panel made with melamine laminate on top. The melamine coating is very slick even after a sanding and undercoating and painting the following photos shows the paint was pretty easy to cause it to be worn off. In hind sight I should have used plain timber but the draw front is just a face plate and can be easialy replaced but extra time and materials and having to re match paint is a drag. Moral of my story is a simple 5 minute choice timber vs melamine could have made my project last longer. Your sanding could stop paint chipping for extra years

Sanding matters

Nham

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/126951#Comment_126951

Thanks for the msg @KatieC ,

We had a similar situation to you @mmd22 , we were using solid wood recycled doors that were already stained. I did a very light sand with the orbital sander then painted the doors with two coats of British Paints White 4 In 1 Prep, after drying we applied two coats of Dulux Aqua Enamel, gloss in vivid white (waterbase). After painting I hand sanded down the surface with 240 grit. I would also take off the door if you can manage it and we used a brush not a roller.

Good luck with your doors:-)

Nham

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/117471#Comment_117471

Hi @mmd22,

It's great to see that @Jewelleryrescue and @Nham have been assisting with your questions. You must remove the glossy appearance of the varnish coat on your door, allowing your primer to adhere correctly. Go over the door with 180/240-grit sandpaper until you have dulled the gloss. You don't need to remove the varnish completely.

Please let us know if you have further questions.

Mitchell

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/126959#Comment_126959

@Nham , @Jewelleryrescue and @MitchellMc Thank you so much for your helpful advice .

I used orbital sander with 120 grit then by hand 180 grit .

It took very good few hours to remove all the shiny varnish.

I Primed with 2 coats Dulux Precision maximum strength adhesion primer .

How long do I need to wait before my top coats . Primer tin say 1 hour .

What grit sand paper should I between my top coats ?

I am in little bit trouble for top coat .As I mentioned Previous owner left some paint that was used for all the doors but does not have any custom level on the tin .

So I took the tin to 2 Bunnings shop but they can not match 100% .It is very frustration. The left over paint I have it does not seems enough for 2 top coats . I had buy 2 sample container to see if the colour match .

From Paint shop I was told , I could use my sample container ( mixed together , they are low shin) as my first top coat and use my existing pain as my final top coat which is semi gloss .

Is this good idea ? or do I have any more options ?

Thank you

Here is some update After sandinfafter Priming

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/133252#Comment_133252

Hi @mmd22

Absolultly good advice from the paint shop as you described to save paint and money and still end up with the final color you want,

If you are really carefull care full and you final paint is quite thick and moves slowly like honey you may add 5% of water to help it be more thinner giving you more paint volume, Add water in small amounts so you do not make to paint to runny that would not be good.

You can always buy another 500ml same color top coat if you run short , This is you main door so extra coats is better for longer wear with out having too much extra paint the door wont close .

Nice sanding and painting of door to date. 🙂

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/137133#Comment_137133

@Jewelleryrescue I am not trying to save money , I am trying to save my work 😀 . IF i could have same colour I have then I can only do 2 doors but If i can not have same colour then I need to do door frame , skating as well.

I will give it a goo

Thank you

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/139805#Comment_139805

Hi @mmd22

Saving moneys my middle name with out trying to be to fugal on my own projects and some of that comes out in my posts some time so sorry about that as its all about me and my projects I prefer your to have a little too much than a little short..

I think you are right though I might not mention saving $ maybe it implies some one else is so thank you for letting me know you are a very kind person.

I just want you to have a good day and a good project that would make me happiest and so far you are doing a top notch job. cant wait till you final photos

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/141646#Comment_141646

Hello @Jewelleryrescue

I really can not Thank you enough for your details advice on this project . I do not have much experience but with this community's help I have started doing some small project .I took your full advice and tried to do all in one day .but I need little bit more time as I am doing 2 doors .

You know what I saved lots of money today with your advice . Thank you for so much for that .

Doors looking pretty good so far , just need to final coat . Hopefully I will finish tomorrow and they I will upload final photos .

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/143034#Comment_143034

Looking good @mmd22! Keep us updated as I can't wait to see your results.

Mitchell

Hello Everyone

sorry for late upload.

Please find my final colour of the main door

Thank you so much for everyone for your support

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/24807#Comment_24807

Top job @mmd22

it looks brand spanking new 🙂

I like the long door handle to as I have longish curved one too.

And out the door really nice stone fascia matching the whites of your entery 🙂

You can answer the next how to paint a door question your a pro now.

RenoRach1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/24807#Comment_24807

Wow! Great painting job - your doors look fantastic, especially the front door with the long handle - so stylish.