How to Paint French Doors

Co-authored by Patrick Coye

Last Updated: June 24, 2021 References

Painting French doors is a DIY project anyone can accomplish in a weekend. Before painting, take the time to prepare the doors by sanding, washing, and priming them.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Patrick Coye
Painting Specialist
Expert Interview. 22 July 2020.} A paint brush and paint roller are all you need to apply a perfect coat of paint. After the paint dries, your French doors can become a bright and vibrant part of your home.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Sanding and Cleaning the Surface

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Lay a tarp under the doors.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Patrick Coye
Painting Specialist
Expert Interview. 22 July 2020.} While you can remove the doors to paint them, leaving them in the door frame makes the job easier. Protect your floors by spreading a plastic tarp out under the doors. You can purchase a tarp at a home improvement store or wherever else paint supplies are sold.^{[3]
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- Cardboard and other absorbent scrap material can be used as a makeshift tarp.
2
Buff damaged spots with 120 to 150 medium-grit sandpaper. If your doors have any marks or dents, now is the time to take care of them. Rub the spot to wear away the material around it. Keep doing this until the damage disappears, then sand the surrounding areas to blend them in and smooth out the finish.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Patrick Coye
Painting Specialist
Expert Interview. 22 July 2020.}
- If you still have trouble with these spots, try using rougher sandpaper or an orbital sander.
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3
Smooth the doors with 180 to 220 fine-grit sandpaper. Lightly rub the sandpaper against the doors to even them out and ready them for new paint. Go over every surface, including ones you treated with heavier sandpaper. The doors should look smooth and even once you are done.^{[5]
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- When sanding, always start with the coarser sandpaper. Then use the finer sandpaper to smooth the surface.
4
Create a mild cleaning solution with dish soap and water. Fill a bucket with about 1 US gal (3.8 L) of water. Mix in about a tablespoon of an all-purpose dish soap. Your regular dish soap works fine unless it is designed for harsher stains like grease.^{[6]
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- The water temperature doesn't matter too much. To stay safe, keep it cool or lukewarm.
5
Dampen a cloth in the solution and wipe down the surface. Dip a clean microfiber cloth into the soapy water. Get the cloth damp but not dripping. Squeeze out any excess water first, then thoroughly wipe the doors to remove all of the grime, oil, and sawdust that has accumulated over time.^{[7]
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Dry off the doors with a clean microfiber cloth. Get another microfiber cloth and go back over the doors. They have to be completely dry. This second pass should finish removing all of the grime that can ruin the paint job. Move onto priming right away while the doors are clean.^{[8]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Priming the Doors

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Ventilate your area and wear a respirator. Always take precautions when working with primer and paint. Open up any nearby doors and windows to let in fresh air. Consider wearing a respirator so you don't end up breathing in fumes.
2
Tape around the door knobs, hinges, and glass. Use painter's tape to cover up these parts.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Patrick Coye
Painting Specialist
Expert Interview. 22 July 2020.} Stick the tape directly to the door knobs, around the area that attaches to the door. Tape over the hinges to protect them. Also apply tape around the outside edge of any glass panels in the doors.^{[10]
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- Taping the windows is tedious. If you are using latex paint and don't mind scraping paint off them later, you can leave the windows uncovered.
3
Unscrew the lock set to tape around it. The lock set is the metal piece on the frame's side next to the door knobs. You will need a Phillips head screwdriver to remove it. Loosen it by turning the screws counterclockwise. Slide the lock set out, then wrap tape around it. Push it back into the door and screw it in place.
4
Spread the primer on the doors in short, even strokes. Pick up a bucket of paint primer from a home improvement store. Dip a brush in it and spread it onto the doors. Move slowly to paint on an even layer.^{[11]
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5
Let the primer dry completely before painting. Check the manufacturer's instructions on the label for the recommended drying time. Primer takes about 3 hours to dry completely. You can leave it longer to ensure it dries, but paint as soon as possible to limit the amount of dust settling on the doors.^{[12]
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- If dust settles on the door, wipe it off with a dry cloth before painting.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Applying the Paint

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Use an angled brush to paint difficult spots. Dip the brush into the paint, then use it to reach spots a paint roller can't get. It's perfect for covering the door's corners and the ridges around the windows. Tackle these difficult spots first since the paint bunches there.^{[13]
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- Angled paint brushes can be purchased from a home improvement store.
2
Coat a paint roller with paint. Mini foam paint rollers are the perfect size for French doors. Pour some paint into a paint tray and roll the roller through it. When it is evenly coated, you are ready to paint. Begin right away so the paint on the door does not have time to dry.^{[14]
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- Using a brush is possible here. Using one is slower, so the paint may begin to dry before you finish.
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Paint the doors 1 side at a time. Use the roller on the wide, flat parts of the door. Focus on 1 side at a time. Move the roller at a steady pace to apply an even coat of paint. Cover all the areas the roller can reach.
4
Paint the doors again after the first coat dries. Read the instructions on the paint can for the recommended drying time. It is usually about 2 hours. Once the paint has set, go back over it with a second coat of paint. Use the roller again on large areas and the brush on small areas.^{[15]
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- If you use a dark color, you will most likely need to apply a third coat of paint to make the doors look perfect.
5
Let the paint dry for up to a day. Again, read the manufacturer's instructions to find out how long the paint takes to dry. It usually dries after a few hours, but you can give it a little more time to ensure it sets.^{[16]
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- It's best to wait a whole day before attempting to peel paint off the glass.
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Remove all the tape on the doors and examine the windows. Any paint splashed on them should be dry by now. Peel off the tape, noticing any paint spots on the glass.^{[17]
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7
Scrape the paint off the windows with a scraper. Finish the job with a razor blade scraper from the hardware store. Hold the tool flat against the glass, positioning it so the blade points towards the paint. Dig the blade under the paint as you push it towards the end of the glass. The paint should break into strips you can peel off with your fingers.^{[18]
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- If the paint is stuck, cut into it using a utility knife or box cutter. Be careful not to push too hard or else you might scratch the glass. Then try scraping off the paint again.

Expert Q&A

Question

Which primer should I use on French doors?

Patrick Coye
Painting Specialist
Patrick Coye is the owner and operator of Patrick’s Painting & Home Improvement in Alexandria, Virginia. With over 15 years of experience in residential construction, Patrick specializes in painting, wallpaper removal/installation, drywall, staining decks and fences, and kitchen cabinetry painting. To date, Patrick and his team have painted over 2,000 houses and stained over 800 decks. Patrick's Company won a "Top Job" award from the American Painting contractor magazine in 2020.

Patrick Coye

Painting Specialist

Expert Answer

Read the label to make sure the primer is compatible with the paint you intend on using.
Question

What should I keep in mind when painting an oak door white?

Patrick Coye
Painting Specialist
Patrick Coye is the owner and operator of Patrick’s Painting & Home Improvement in Alexandria, Virginia. With over 15 years of experience in residential construction, Patrick specializes in painting, wallpaper removal/installation, drywall, staining decks and fences, and kitchen cabinetry painting. To date, Patrick and his team have painted over 2,000 houses and stained over 800 decks. Patrick's Company won a "Top Job" award from the American Painting contractor magazine in 2020.

Patrick Coye

Painting Specialist

Expert Answer

When painting an oak door white, the biggest mistake is not using high quality primer. You'll want a stain blocking primer, something that's going to resist any of the door stains coming through the finish coat.

Warnings

Avoid inhaling paint fumes by keeping your space well-ventilated. Open nearby doors and windows and wear a respirator.

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