Painting interior door

Pingu1

I am planning on painting an interior wooden door and am checking which is the correct paint to use. I painted it back in 2014 with a white matt water based from Wickes. I didn't know what I was doing, having just bought my first property. Do I need a primer before painting again? Should I lightly sand before painting? Is there a particular paint I should be using?

Grenage

If it's matte then it likely won't need a sand, although a light one won't hurt.  Just undercoat and top coat; no need for a primer unless it's bare wood.

Pingu1

Thanks. Presumably a water based paint is fine on top of a water based paint?

FreeBear

Pingu1 said: Thanks. Presumably a water based paint is fine on top of a water based paint?

Water based on top will be fine. And even if the old paint is a matt finish, give it a light sanding first.

stuart45

What colour is it going to be?

Bookworm105

you use paint intended for wood and one that is compatible with a previous water based paint

the instructions explaining what the paint is for are on the side of each tin of paint 

victor2

I always avoid the DIY shop's own brand paints, as they seem to contain more water than paint!

As others have said, lightly sand before painting, and make sure you remove all the dust that generates from the surface before applying paint. Worth getting some Tack Cloths for that purpose (Wickes sell them, if that's your preferred store). Sanding pads make the job easier too, unless you already have a sander.

Bookworm105

victor2 said:

 Sanding pads make the job easier too, 

wow, this is the MSE forum
wrap a sheet of sandpaper around an offcut of wood 

Mutton_Geoff

Clean thoroughly with sugar soap as doors will invariably be covered in greasy paw prints that will affect the new paint adhering.

If at all possible, take the door off and paint it when it's laid flat, you get a much better finish.

Belenus

Mutton_Geoff said:

......If at all possible, take the door off and paint it when it's laid flat, you get a much better finish.

An excellent suggestion and probably doable for most DIYers.

When we had our house professionally redecorated some years ago the painter not only removed the internal doors, he took them away and spray painted them in a spray painting booth that he had. The resultant finish was excellent and the doors still look very good about eight years later. His price was very reasonable compared to doing it on site as the extra time transporting the doors was offset by the reduced painting time. It also meant that we didn't have the risks of on site spray painting affecting other surfaces.

I do realise that probably isn't relevant to the OP but if anyone is looking at paying for a decorator it might be worth seeing if there is any one who can offer a similar off site spray painting service.

Albermarle

Grenage said:

If it's matte then it likely won't need a sand, although a light one won't hurt.  Just undercoat and top coat; no need for a primer unless it's bare wood.

Do you really need to bother with undercoat in this situation. Normally I would just put two coats of paint on, although not an expert !

I always avoid the DIY shop's own brand paints, as they seem to contain more water than paint!

I found Wickes Trade Satinwood to be quite good. More expensive than their standard paint, but about the same price as Dulux standard, but cheaper than Dulux trade. They do no do it in matt though.