Painting a Raw Wood Door

Place the door flat on a compatible work surface. You can paint the door while it is installed, but it is a little more tricky.

Fill a bucket with powder detergent and water. Then wash the wood door using a rag. Allow it to dry for 48 hours before moving forward.

Remove the screws from all hardware such as the knob and hinges from the door using a Phillips screwdriver. Once the screws are removed, pull the hardware off with your hands. To avoid taking off the hardware, protect it with painter's tape.

Smooth the surface of the raw wood door using a medium-grit sandpaper. Suck up all sandpaper grit and debris using a vacuum.

Fill in any holes or scrapes in the raw wood door with wood filler. Squeeze the filler out of the tube and onto the plastic applicator or putty knife. Then smooth it over the hole. Remove any excess filler with a damp rag. Allow the wood filler to dry, and then use the sandpaper to smooth it out.

Wipe the surface with a damp rag to remove all debris. Make sure the surface is dry before going on to the next step.

Mix the primer with a stirring stick, and then pour it into a paint tray. Use a primer that is compatible with wood. Paint the door with primer. Allow the primer to dry thoroughly, then apply a second coat and allow it to dry for about four hours.

Sand the door again using a fine-grit sandpaper. Wipe the door clean using a rag dabbed in mineral spirits. Mix the paint with a stirring stick, and pour it into the paint tray.

Paint the door using a paint brush after the primer is dry. Use smooth, vertical strokes that follow the grain of the wood. If the door has vertical or horizontal runs between panels, paint either horizontally or vertically to match the direction of the run. Coat the edges of the door with smooth, vertical strokes. Allow the first to dry overnight.

Sand the door again with very-fine-grit sandpaper to remove imperfections before the final coat. Remove the grit with a damp cloth. When the door is completely dry, apply the final paint coat.