How to Paint New & Old Doors

From brand-new doors bought directly from Vincent Buda & Co. to old doors that have seen better days, a new coat of paint is exactly what you need to liven up your doors, inside and outside. We’ll tell you all about the doors we have available online and the best method for painting doors, no matter where they’re installed.

Learn how to paint your door with your trusted building supplier for over fifty years!

Doors From Vincent Buda & Co.

Before throwing on a fresh coat of paint, you’ll need a door. The Buda offers two types of doors – fire-attenuation doors (fire doors for short) and non-fire-rated doors. Probably the most noticeable difference between the two is their weight. Fire doors are much heavier than regular non-fire-rated ones, making them more resistant to fire and extreme temperatures.

If you don’t require fire protection, go for our standard solid-core doors instead.

Fire Attenuation Doors

In the event of a fire, fire doors are made to contain the spread of smoke and flames. Fire doors compartmentalise a building when closed, allowing for a safe exit. Fire doors aid in lifesaving efforts and limit the rate of structural damage to a building as part of passive fire protection, giving the fire department more time to get on the site.

Fire doors are required in many public and commercial structures in Australia. An accredited fire and safety inspector should examine each commercial property to ascertain which passive fire protection devices are required to meet building codes. A licenced specialist must install and maintain fire doors according to Australian Standards. 

Non-Fire-Rated Doors

These solid core doors often have plywood or moulded composite external skin, with an interior wood fibre combination nearly identical to solid wood. Solid core doors offer greater temperature insulation and noise reduction than hollow core doors, making them a more robust option.

Door Finishes

Our fire-rated and non-fire-rated solid core doors are available in two different finishes: MDF and Duracote.

MDF Doors

Medium-density fibreboard, or MDF for short, is an engineered wood product made from recovered and recycled wood fibre. It was created as a more practical and long-lasting substitute for natural wood because it doesn't splinter, expand, or distort. Compared to other types of wood, such as pine and poplar, it also offers a smoother surface for painting, thanks to the extremely fine particle fibres and lack of wood grain.

Duracote Doors

DuraCote is a layer of acrylic polymer that provides class-leading durability and strong resistance to blistering, peeling and dirt pickup while offering a smooth painting surface.

Painting Your Doors

Whether you’re dealing with our MDF doors or Duracote finish, the process for painting your door is exactly the same. Below is a list of tools and materials you’ll need to complete the job, plus easy-to-follow instructions to ensure you get an excellent finish.

Tools:

• Brush
• Roller
• Safety gear
• Saw horses
• Screwdriver
• Hammer
• Pry tool

Materials:

• Drop sheets
• Topcoat
• Undercoat

1. Remove Door From Frame

The most straightforward approach to painting your door is to remove it from the door frame. While almost every door is attached via a hinge, not all door hinges are made the same. Some will require a screwdriver to remove a few screws, while some will have pin hinges which will need a bit more work.

Place something under the door to stabilise and prevent it from toppling over. Once supported, force the pin up from the door hinge using a pry tool, a flat-head screwdriver, and a hammer, tapping with gradually increasing force until the pin is free. If you’re having trouble freeing the pin, use WD-40 to get it moving.

Once the door is free from the door frame, place it on top of your saw horses (with a drop sheet underneath) to begin painting. If you don’t own saw horses, two chairs or equally sized boxes will do the trick. Now is also the time to remove the rest of the door hardware, like handles and door hooks.

2.Surface Preparation

Doors bought from the Buda come with an MDF or Duracote paint-ready finish, meaning there’s no need for surface preparation except light dusting. For older, more weathered surfaces, we recommend giving your door a light sanding to prepare the surface for painting. If you’re painting a front door, we recommend choosing door paint that will withstand environmental stressors like moisture and temperature.

3. Undercoat Application

After mixing the paint tin, apply an undercoat to the edges of the door with a brush, then use a roller to paint the front. We recommend going over the door two or three times in a ‘W’ shape to ensure an even coat.

4. Lay-Off

The ‘lay-off’ is the easiest part of painting your door–apply even pressure and run your roller across the door to ensure your undercoat is smooth. Leave to dry.

5. Sanding

After the door paint is dry, sand it with fine-grade sandpaper, and remove dust before proceeding to the next step.

6.Topcoat Application

Like the undercoat application, use the ‘W’ shape to apply your topcoat, followed by a good lay-off.

7. Painting The Other Side

Once the paint is dry, repeat steps 2 to 6 on the opposite side. Be careful to keep the door paint intact while flipping over the table.

8. Reattaching the Door

Once the paint dries, reattach the door fittings and hang it back on its frame.

How to paint a door without removing it from its frame?

We highly recommend removing your door from its frame before painting, but if you’re in a rush or the door just won’t come off, here’s how to paint a door without removing it altogether.

Use painter's tape to cover up the hinges and exposed door hardware. Sand down both sides of the door and remove dust with a damp cloth. Using a roller, paint the door with an undercoat, followed by a lay-off on either side of the door. 

Once dry, apply your topcoat, followed again by a lay-off. Wait to dry before removing the painter's tape.

Quality Paint-Ready Doors

You can trust Vincent Buda to have 1hr and 2hr rated fire doors, alongside solid core doors for internal and external installation, in stock and sent to your door. With 99% of our online stock readily available anytime, orders placed before 12 pm will be delivered the following business day by courier dispatch.

Serving builders and DIYers since 1957, you can trust the Buda for your next job. Shop online now to access door frames and doors alongside high-quality structural steel and building supplies for various projects, big and small.