How Do I Paint an Exterior Wooden Door?Updated 2 years ago
Remove any metal fixtures and fittings, including the numbers, door handle, and post box. Clean the door using Tikkurila's Cleaning Agent to remove any grime and dirt.
Prepare the wood
You need to prepare the surface before you paint it.
For bare wood, use 120 grit sandpaper to sand in the direction of the woodgrain and smooth out the surface. This helps the paint stick to the surface.
Once the dust has settled, wipe down your door with white spirit.
If you spot any holes or cracks, fill them in and cover knots with a knot blocker to stop them from showing through your new paint.
For previously painted doors in good condition, lightly sand it with 240-grit sandpaper. Once the dust has settled, wipe the surface down with white spirit.
For wooden doors with flaking, cracked, or peeling paint, use 120 grit sandpaper to sand away the paint down to the bare wood. We recommend using an electric sander to make a quick job of it but you could use a flat scraper. Once the dust has settled, wipe it away with white spirit.
Prime the wood
Apply your primer to the door and leave it to dry. Make sure you cover it thoroughly so your paint sticks consistently. We recommend our Otex Adhesion Primer or Ultra Primer if a water-based solution is required.
Apply the paint
Give your paint a really good stir so the colour pigments are thoroughly mixed. Apply the paint with a synthetic brush in the direction of the grain.
Leave it to dry as per the directions on the technical data sheet and apply a second coat.
Recommended options include:
Ultra Matt or Ultra Classic, depending on the sheen level required