What type of paint should I use to paint the interior doors and trim?

Question

I recently had new interior doors and trim installed in my house. We patched and sanded the nails and painted with a glossy white paint. It came out streaked and you could see the patch underneath. What kind of paint should I use? Or what kind of brush should I use? Is there a good washable, but durable paint? What about painting the fireplace mantel? What kind paint should I use on that? Any suggestions are appreciate.

Answer 1

Before repainting over the patch, make sure it is smoothed out more to match the rest of the door.

Lightly sand the door and trim before repainting. I would prime it as well which should help resolve the patch showing through.

I've used most all of the better quality and well known paints. Unbelievably, my favorite is Lowe's American Tradition made by Valspar. It is also one of the highest rated paints by Consumer Reports. Behr is actually rated as #1, just above Lowe's this year. Last year it was Lowe's. Basically, there is alot of money at stake between the two competitors and every two years when CR puts out its newest report, one of those two add more Titaniam--the ingrediant that makes the biggest difference in quality of paint.

I ALWAYS use a Purdy brush. There is NO comparison or second best. You will find that almost all professional painters use Purdy's and for good reason. Your strokes will show less and be more refined. The Purdy brush loads and delivers paint far better than the next best.

If you are handpainting your doors and trimwork and especially the mantle, use a product called "Flotrol" which is an additive that you add to your paint. It does 2 things: It delays the drying time of the paint which then in turn allows the paint within your brush strokes to flow into each other or dissapear. It's a wonderful product.

If you are handpainting the doors, use a small, dense foam roller along with Flotrol added (see the instructions for amount) to the paint. The best foam brushes are at Home Depot--NOT Lowes. Although they look identical, they are NOT. THEY PERFORM entirely different from each other. Again, the foam brush I am talking about is smaller than the 8 " one and is yellow in color and pretty dense. It will say on the pkg. that it is for smooth surfaces.

You can also try using the paint pads for your doors. They work pretty well too.

If you don't use Lowe's American Tradition Eggshell, Satin or Semi-Gloss (all washable), then other decent paints are Kelly Moore and Dun Edwards (only available in a few western states). Behr is good and believe it or not, for the 7th year rating in a row, Walmart's brand has once again been tagged as best buy. It's actually very good too.

The reason I like Lowe's is that it goes on like cream and almost always covers in just one coat. Lowes has also matched colors better than anywhere else for me. I can even tell them to match a Sherwin Williams or Kelly Moor color for me and it is right on the spot for it. Hope this is of some help

Answer 2

Well first of all, since you will be painting with a darker color, there won't be a need for primer. Next, yes you will need to sand. Sounds,like you said, an enamel was used and the doors need to be de-glossed. Not a time consuming big sanding job, just to rough the surface up. Use a 150 grit sandpaper. Now, you can brush paint on without leaving brush marks but the proper brushes must be used, and you must go over the brushed area slightly in the opposite directions. I am guessing you will be using a water based paint and I do suggest you buy a bottle of Flowtrol to add to your paint. This helps to make a water based paint flow off your brush as if you were using an oil based paint. That helps eliminate your brush marks. If you can not find it, ask for it. Flowtrol. You need to use a good brush also. Your paint job is only as good as the brush you use, and that's the truth. For latex, or water based use a synthetic brush, not a natural hair one like suggested. Those are only for oil based paints and varnish, shellacs. A better quality brush really matters. When you first brush your paint on, do only a small area at a time. If you brush up and down, go back over it from left to right very lightly. Do that only once. You won't see any brush marks doing it that way. When you brush another section, brush up into the last part and not from where you left off going down. Then go across it in the other direction again. (just that section) Do it that way and you will achieve a quality looking paint job. I don't suggest a spray. And don't forget the Flowtrol! Oh I'm sorry, use an interior gloss or semi-gloss paint!

Answer 3

sticking to the doors for now, assuming they were well primed before you painted, you really shouldn't have had visible patches. Normally, after sanding and patching, you should have covered everything with a good sealer primer, like perhaps Kilz II, using two coats over the patch areas. When dry, paint the door and trim with interior Latex enamel in a semi gloss finish. This will give you good hiding capabilities as well as being highly washable and durable, all good things for door and trim where hands are in contact.
The brush type doesn't mater all that much as long as it is nylon and not camel hair, which is only for oil based paints.

The mantel I don't know enough about to make an informed decision, other than again, prep is everything. Do al your patching, sanding and priming first. My old painting foreman used to say that a monkey could paint but only a good painter took the time to get the preperation work done properly. It's all in the details. Write back and let me know about the mantel, such as material, size, age, etc.

Answer 4

Chris has the first best clue. KILZ and Zinzer make an excellent oil based primer; that accepts latex, once dry.

After multiple thousands of gallons of paint; I prefer Satin; but that's just me. It has more polymers included in the recipie than flat; is less porous, and has a high level of "Cleanability" after the fact. I find Gloss and Semi gloss, no matter the "brand" to be difficult and unsatisfactory to work with, in a general sense; always needing more than a single coat.

I'm also a bit confused by the fact that you may not have countersunk any/all scres and/or nails; then spackled over; sanded; primed; then applied a finish coat.

I use PURDY or Zinzer brushes.

The Mantle could be the same color as the trim color; and assuming the HEAT from the fireplace has never been an issue before; you can use the same paint.

Steven Wolf

Answer 5

How To Paint Interior Doors

Answer 6

Best Paint For Trim

Answer 7

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RE:
What type of paint should I use to paint the interior doors and trim?
I recently had new interior doors and trim installed in my house. We patched and sanded the nails and painted with a glossy white paint. It came out streaked and you could see the patch underneath. What kind of paint should I use? Or what kind of brush should I use? Is there a good washable,...

Answer 8

If this was "raw wood" and it's the first time it's been painted then you should use a primer first.

I've been painting homes for about 47 years now, always use a primer, it saves time and money.
Use a "Kilz" primer on all the interior wood first, it's as easy as that.

Check over all the wood surfaces, make sure it all is smooth and then primer all the wood. let it dry. Get all your paint from Home Depot. I've bought my paint from them since I think they opened their doors.
Get a good grade of white water base primer but remember, there are 350 tones of "white" so, when you get the tone you want, have them put it in the computer so you'll have it in case you need more.

Get a good brush, a good "Purdy" about a four or six inch brush is good and, learn how to use it. Don't think about these tiny brushes. The big ones work great. Learn how to "cut" a line.

If you have kids, then use the enamel where ever they're going to walk or use the area, you'll never be sorry, the walls, the areas they're in, it'll be easy to clean.

Answer 9

Gloss paint will show the imperfections of a dry wall job, plus you should prime all repaired areas before painting. I use semi-gloss and a longer napped roller this will leave a slight textured look on the wall if you look close, kind of like a orange peel look. Always use good brushes and good rollers, especially rollers, cheap rollers will shed.
On the mantel put a good prime coat on and paint with semi gloss as well....apply with a good brush or trim it out then use one of the small foam rollers, checking frequently for runs and drips.

Answer 10

I am painting my hallway doors and wish to give them an updated look - they are white gloss at the moment - any suggestions be welcomed - I propose to use a roller to paint them