Paint your interior doors to spruce them up, so they look fresh and clean, but before you open that tin, brush up your knowledge on the type of paint to use.
Interior doors and trims, as well as skirting boards get a lot of use day-to-day which means you’ll want one that’s hardwearing as well as pleasing on the eye.
Behind every painted wooden door is an all-important decision on the type of paint finish, so let’s dip further into this subject.
Smooth With Satinwood
Satinwood, so called because it’s a satin which is great for wood, is classed as a semi-gloss. It’s also known as satin finish, and is fast becoming the number one option for paint finish for interior woodwork, especially by millennials who see it as more modern.
Satinwood has a pearl like sheen with the finish being less reflective. It’s not as shiny as gloss but not as matt as an eggshell finish. For doors and trims, the preference is to use a water based satinwood.
Some people are loath to use it because they feel it lacks body, but that’s often a misconception because technology has improved and now it’s developed to a superior quality. Depending on your wood, you may have to apply additional coats of paint.
Glossing Over Gloss
The traditional choice for painting doors, trims and skirting boards has always been oil based gloss because it’s practical and hardwearing.
Gloss paint holds up better for cleaning. Doors and the trims can get grubby which makes gloss type paints the preferred option, but some argue it’s outdated.
Choose a water based gloss and not oil based, as over time oil based can discolour, meaning that beautiful white door, trim or skirting board may develop a yellow hue. This is especially true if your door is in an area which lacks light; it will yellow quicker in a dark hallway rather than in a bright conservatory.
With gloss paint you’ll need an undercoat to prevent it soaking into wood. The downside of using gloss is that it can take a long time to dry and could have a strong smell, with the fumes causing a headache. In recent years modern paint manufacturers have introduced odourless paints, so you no longer have to worry about strong vapours.
Another negative about high-gloss paint is that it can highlight slight blemishes within the wood itself, the high amount of sheen means you can easily see imperfections.
As with most decisions, it will come down to personal preference. It’s your home and you’ll be passing through the doors over and over again. While it may be the most basic DIY job, once it’s painted you’ll have to live with it.
For all your doors internal and external, talk to the team at Door Stop. Our doors are of a superior quality and we offer exemplary customer service from enquiry to installation with a 7-year door warranty that’s worth having. Drop into our showroom in either Joondalup or Osborne Park to find out why we’re the door store of choice in Perth.
