External wooden doors – advantages and disadvantages
Wooden doors definitely have more advantages than disadvantages. They are beautiful and add personality to any interior. Wooden door leaves have very good thermal insulation properties, are a good acoustic barrier and, of course, are durable.
Wooden exterior doors require maintenance from the user. After all, wood without proper protection and care can easily become damaged. Their main drawback is poor resistance to weather conditions. Water penetrating deep into wood can cause serious damage.
Preparing wooden doors for repair
Doors must not only be resistant to adverse weather conditions, but also look good. Restoring wooden doors can significantly improve their appearance and extend their lifespan.
Repairing wooden doors is easy. Wood can be easily restored, so it is worth thinking about repairs and repairing them using simple tools and different types of paint.
Note! Before starting repair work, remove them from the hinges, and then unscrew the handles and locks. If disassembling them is too difficult or even impossible, they should be sealed with tape, but so that not a millimeter of the wooden surface is covered with tape. We should protect elements that we do not want to change – this could be, for example, glazing.
Clean the door from dirt, dust, and check for damage, cracks or deformations. If there are cracks, they should be covered with wood putty of various colors. Smooth out with a spatula and let dry (usually about 24 hours).
Pests can feed on old doors. If they are not removed during renovation, they will continue to erode the wood structure and can eventually cause permanent damage. Signs of their occurrence are visible channels and small holes. At home, you can get rid of pests only with the help of special solvent-based chemicals that are injected into hollow holes and channels.
It is necessary to prepare the surface for painting. The coating is in good condition and the previously unpainted surface should be thoroughly sanded with sandpaper. It is worth remembering that in more polished areas the varnish layer will turn out lighter, and in rougher areas it will be darker.
Old flakes of paint should be removed using a steel brush, sandpaper or sander.
Additional Information! Before painting, old paints and varnishes should be thoroughly sanded, first with a grinder and then with sandpaper of various gradations. The work starts with sanding large surfaces and then moves to the corners. To ensure a smooth surface, use 100-120 grit paper first, then move to 200 grit and finally to fine 320 grit. This will get rid of minor imperfections and scratches and smooth out wood doors.
If the layer of old paint is thick and difficult to sand, you can first use a special solvent-based chemical (you should choose a biodegradable one). Simply apply it to the surface of the door according to the instructions and then remove the old paintwork using a scraper. Work should be carried out outdoors or in a large ventilated area. It is also better to use a mask to avoid inhaling chemical fumes and dust.
Door leaf updates
If the coatings of previously used products are in good condition, whether it is worth getting rid of the previous layers or not depends on the aesthetic effect that we want to achieve. If the door leaf is painted with matte enamel and you are satisfied with the appearance of the door, all that remains is to thoroughly matte its surface. If the door leaf is varnished and is going to be painted, then matting is also suitable. To significantly change the color by painting a door with lacquer stain instead of enamel, the previous paint or varnish coating will need to be removed, otherwise the natural pattern will not be visible.
Depending on the shape of the door, the product is applied by brush, roller, pad or air sprayer. For simple surfaces, paint with a brush or roller.
After the wood has completely dried, treatment is necessary – the so-called interlayer sanding with sandpaper with a grit of about 320. This will smooth out the protruding wood fibers and make the surface smoother. Before painting the next layer, remove accumulated dust with a vacuum cleaner.
Apply the second layer of product evenly over the entire surface, remembering to rub it along the fibers with a semi-dry brush. Thanks to this, the varnish stain will thoroughly spread over the surface of the wood, creating a perfectly smooth coating. It should dry in 12 hours. After this time, you will be able to enjoy the new appearance of the doors.
How to paint a wooden door
Technical impregnations applied under the paint will provide additional protection for the wood. It is worth choosing paints and varnishes that will create a protective layer. Each coating suitable for wood has its own properties, for example, varnishes and stains protect against mechanical damage and dirt, and waxes penetrate the wood structure, allowing it to breathe.
Alkyd enamels, acrylic or chalk paints are one of the most popular solutions. They are used when they want to cover the entire surface of the door with the selected color. After painting, the texture and pattern of the wood will be visible. The paints are highly scratch resistant. Enamels are the most durable.
Wood door stains create a natural effect that allows the wood grain to remain visible. They are available in many colors. To add shine, you can choose a varnish stain. Lacquer stain creates a durable and flexible coating, and objects painted with it acquire a beautiful shine, emphasizing the texture of the wood.
Varnishes for wooden doors are used to preserve natural color, add shine and protect against scratches and moisture. They are stable and durable and also easy to maintain.
Oils and waxes protect wood by penetrating its structure. Thanks to them, she can breathe and release moisture outside.
How to paint interior doors
Various types of paints are suitable for painting indoor doors. Solid wood can also be stained and varnished.
Painting wooden interior doors is simple and does not require professional skills. It is worth adhering to a few basic rules:
- First, you should paint hard-to-reach places and corners;
- paint or other wood preservative should be applied in thin layers, in long strokes, starting from the upper left corner and ending at the bottom;
- sponge rollers are recommended for large surfaces, and brushes for edges and corners;
- for preparations diluted with water, choose velvet, sponge or mohair rollers;
- Solvents should be applied with a nylon or polyester roller;
- when the previous coat of paint has dried, sand the surface with fine-grained sandpaper before applying the next one;
- It is recommended to apply at least 2 layers of paint;
- If masking tape was used to protect the door elements, it must be removed immediately after finishing the work, before the paint has had time to dry.
When refinishing wooden doors, you can choose any color and finish, from pastel and rich colors to the natural colors of various types of wood. The solution often chosen is staining or applying a top coat. It is also possible to give the doors a retro look.
To apply the varnish stain evenly, about a minute after applying the product, rub it with a semi-dry brush along the wood grain. When painting large surfaces, the joints of individual elements should be done wet. Doors painted this way should take about 12 hours to dry.
The final stage of painting is thorough washing and drying of the tools used. Rinse the brush thoroughly, dry it and untwist it.
