the painted surface

Painting A Six Panel Door

Panel doors are quite common as entrance and interior privacy doors. Often the front door is painted an accent color to draw attention to the front entrance. With so many sections to paint it is easy for the paint to begin to dry as you paint each section. Painting over partially dried paint can leave the finish spotty and uneven looking. Try these tips for a more uniform result. Evaluate the entrance beginning with the casing. If the casing needs to be painted, paint the casing first, then the door. This allows you to paint the casing without having to deal with a wet door in the way. A panel door has many sections and each one is painted individually. Though it seems like a lot of steps, you want to work your way down the door, maintaining a "wet edge." This will help prevent lap marks caused by painting over partially dried paint. Going in the order marked gives you the best chance at achieving a uniform finish. Should you want a two-tone look, paint the panels first, then the rails and stiles. On exterior doors, for weather protection, it is a good idea to paint the top and bottom edges.