Varnishing doors at home: what is possible and what is not

Wooden doors are a really beautiful and environmentally friendly thing. Unfortunately, even though Russia is rich in timber, woodwork is not cheap these days. But in addition to manufacturing, you need to hang hinges with a lock on the door, polish it, and then install it. The price is still rising. Is it possible to save money by covering the doors with stain and varnish at home, without poisoning either yourself or your neighbors? Of course it is possible, and I will now tell you how to do it.

@amazonaws.com

Why varnish woodwork?

Many, looking at a wooden door, are perplexed - why spoil the natural beauty with stains and varnishes? Yes, this is an argument - the texture of the wood is very beautiful even without any impregnation. But, firstly , over time, the same pine withers without treatment and the difference in texture, especially on glued door panels, begins to be very noticeable. This leads to the answer: why do they use stain - to even out the color scheme of the wood.

@stroirem.net

Secondly , deep impregnation stain, as a rule, is an antiseptic, and the likelihood of fungus appearing after treatment is significantly reduced.

And thirdly , with proper processing, the texture of wood can be very effectively emphasized with the help of stain.

As for the varnish, in addition to protection from moisture and ultraviolet radiation, it has good decorative properties. If you don’t want the door to shine after varnishing, like a cat’s eyes in the dark, then matte varnish will suit you.

Types of glossy interior doors

Depending on the type of swinging, glossy doors in the interior are classified into the following types:

Hinged doors are a classic option and are most often used for glossy doors. It has good sound insulation, thermal insulation, is reliable and unpretentious in operation. The only disadvantage of these models is the inconvenience of using them in small rooms, since there will not be enough free space for opening.
Sliding doors are the so-called compartment doors, a non-standard solution for zoning the interior in a glossy design. Relevant in rooms for which every square meter of free space is important. The door leaf is attached to guide rails on the ceiling and floor. This type is also in demand when constructing unusually wide openings and can perform the function of zoning a room, using it as a partition. The disadvantages of such doors include their poor sound insulation and soiling, since they do not have a handle and the side of the door will be used to move the door along the guides.
Folding - this type of doors in a glossy design is less popular than its analogues. Accordion doors are used mainly in small rooms, where, thanks to the doorway, it is necessary to indicate privacy without the additional function of sound and noise insulation, since in the case of folding door options it is rather conventional. The advantages of this type include a high level of compactness - their installation does not require space for opening or sliding. The doors simply fold directly into the opening itself.

What materials are suitable

Let's start from the fact that you don't have a spray gun or a workshop. But for your neighbors, and for you too, the smell of white spirit or 646 is not at all sweet or pleasant. Then we can safely cross out all these materials with caustic solvents.

What do we have left? Deep penetration alcohol stain and a whole line of acrylic materials. And this, my friends, is not so little. Let's start with the advantages of acrylic :

the possibility of using water as a solvent;
non-toxic for humans and animals;
undemanding to the room regarding dust;
a spray gun is not required for work;
acrylic varnish, unlike polyurethane or nitracellulose, practically does not change the natural color of the wood;
acrylic film is elastic and durable.

@tbmmarket.ru

As for the minuses , there are few of them:

The time for complete drying of the layer at +20 degrees can be more than a day. Do not be fooled by the fact that the whitish stains on the surface of the wood have disappeared - the varnish may stick for another two to three days.
The operating temperature of acrylic materials is not lower than +5 degrees. Otherwise, they dry for a long time and painfully. And since water serves as a solvent for acrylic, you can end up with an ice crust on the surface of the wood instead of a layer of varnish.
Good acrylic varnish from Tikkurila, Eskaro or Zip Guard , like any worthwhile thing, is quite expensive. And take something domestic from paint and varnish materials - unless you are varnishing a door not for yourself.

The only thing you can save on is to use an alcohol stain for the first layer of tinting. It really costs a penny, but it just eats away tightly. But it can only be applied to bare wood - no preliminary primers! And this stain does not like putty; the stains can be very noticeable. Therefore, pay special attention to pre-sanding the door, removing all excess putty and wood glue from it.

Varnish selection

There are several types of paints and varnishes that are used when varnishing doors.

Alkyd. They include solvents that give the wood a yellowish tone and are resistant to moisture. To improve drying ability, increase moisture resistance and strength, so-called hardeners are often added to the composition. The drying time for a surface coated with such paints and varnishes is approximately a day.
Acrylic. Manufactured on a water basis. Odorless and non-toxic. To increase strength, hardeners can be added to the varnish composition, since without it the composition does not have good strength characteristics.
Nitrovarnishes. The main advantage is very fast drying. The basis of this varnish is solvents. The disadvantage is increased toxicity, which often makes its use unjustified. The best method of application is a spray gun.
Polyurethane coatings are durable. Polyurethane gives a dark tint, so the surface of the door needs to be primed.

There are other varieties that can be used when varnishing a door. However, the ones listed above are considered the most common.

Note! There is a pattern: the more toxic the varnish, the higher its consumer properties.

Alkyd varnishes are more resistant to moisture, so it is recommended to use them in rooms with high humidity (for example, a bathroom)

Preparatory stage

Let's make a reservation right away - we are now talking about carpentry made from inexpensive types of wood - pine, alder, spruce. If you have enough money for doors made of oak or ash, and you are not a wood painter, refuse to varnish yourself, do not spoil the product. Hire a professional, he will polish everything as it should. Do not touch products with decorative veneer - they can be damaged irrevocably.

@pinterest.ru

First of all, you need to find a table that is large enough, durable, and at a comfortable height. If it is too low, the back from the position bent over it will soon make itself known to you. A clean, soft, thick rag is spread on the table, and a door is placed on top to avoid dents and damage to it. This is especially true for joinery made of spruce, pine or alder.

If the door has glass , and you can’t remove them (or are reluctant), they are covered with masking tape. Be careful that the tape does not cover the wood; all overlaps are carefully trimmed with a utility knife.

To identify dents, cracks and other flaws, arrange several light sources in the room, and so that they illuminate the door obliquely, and not strictly vertically. Examine the surface and panels of the door from different angles, and eliminate flaws before starting sanding. There are three main ways to do this:

using a mixture of sawdust and glue;
choosing a putty that matches the color scheme;
or by caulking a crack or hole with a piece of wood placed on glue.

Attention! Putty under varnish can change color greatly. Check on some block to see how it will look. By the way, after it dries, you can (and should) finish drawing the wood texture on it with a colored pencil - it looks much more natural. These arts are practiced after the first polishing of the canvas.

It is best to putty, sand and varnish the door frame This is simpler, and you can immediately check the color of its ends and casing. There is no particular problem with this - today boxes are assembled mainly with self-tapping screws, and not with dowels or nails, as before.

Features of choice

When choosing a door with a glossy surface, give preference to models that match the stylistic concept of the entire room.
The color scheme and decor should be in harmony with the interior items. The color of the fittings should also be combined with the rest of the metal products used in the decoration of the room. Glossy doors can be solid smooth or have decorative moldings and inserts made of glass, mosaic, or metal. The technology of applying varnish allows you to choose models that either completely hide the wood texture or preserve it, depending on the taste preferences of the buyer.

Grinding process

I will assume that you have a grinding machine (vibro or eccentric). A tape machine can also be used, but it leaves streaks on the wood. No need to use fine sandpaper! If this is done, a surface that is too smooth will not absorb the stain well. As a result, it will be easy to tear it off even by accident, and when tinting the door, drips cannot be avoided. P100 grain , or even P80, and grind all the planes with a machine. Then we manually go through the moldings and figari on the panels. Don't forget about the side ends of the door - they are clearly visible.

Only the back sides of the boxes are not puttied or sanded. By the way, don’t forget to varnish them, otherwise they can take moisture from the wall.

Color solutions

The undisputed leader in glossy door shades is white.. This is what buyers choose most often due to its versatility. They will fit into the interior of any stylistic orientation. Owners of white glossy doors will never be reproached for the tastelessness and inappropriateness of their choice of door leaf.
Black glossy door, as it may not be surprising at first glance, is also considered a classic, like white. However, a black door cannot be called universal. It will look great in spacious modern interiors. Please note that black gloss is the most easily soiled of all, and therefore the most demanding to maintain.
Accent solutions. The main function of doors in bright colors is not functionality, but adding zest to the interior. Doors in bright, rich colors (red, blue, yellow, pink or fuchsia) in combination with a glossy surface will attract attention and become a bright accent spot in the interior, adding boldness and originality to it.
Neutral colors. For lovers of calm colors in the interior without bright accent spots, glossy doors in neutral shades are suitable. These include gray, beige, milky colors. Along with white, they will look calm and noble, but at the same time, less boring and hackneyed.

Tinting

@familychoicepainting.com

The preparatory stage is the most tedious in the varnishing process. When finished, carefully remove wood dust from the surface of the canvas. Then, from the lower and upper ends, a pair of nails 150-200 mm are driven into the door to a depth sufficient to hold it on the painting trestles (this is for sure, 3-4 centimeters). They are driven in at such a distance that the door on the trestles can be conveniently turned over.

On a note. If you drive in three nails (two on the sides of the lower end, one in the middle of the upper), the trestle door can be turned over without a partner.

Before use, it doesn’t matter whether it’s varnish or stain, they are filtered. This can be done by taking old women's tights and putting them on a container of varnish. I hope there won't be any problems with this.

dish sponge is better suited for these purposes . It is used to rub the stain into the wood and remove excess. Try how it lays down and dries on an unnecessary block, then move on to the “finishing” part.

If necessary, apply several layers of stain and wait until it dries completely. Then the door is very carefully sanded with fine (P240) sandpaper and a second layer is applied.

@wikihow.com

Attention! After the last layer of stain, the wood is not sanded; the first layer of varnish is immediately applied to consolidate the result.

Production principle

Like the production of matte interior doors, the production of glossy analogues begins with the creation of the door leaf. Typically this happens as follows:

The frame is made of pine timber and covered with MDF sheets or veneer.
After the base is ready, we begin to decorate the door leaf - giving it the necessary color and gloss.
To create the perfect gloss, manufacturers resort to the methods of varnishing (coating with a special colored varnish in several layers) or polishing (coating the door leaf with enamel in several layers with intermediate polishing of each applied dried layer).

Repairing damage

Now let's look at how to update a damaged door with your own hands, because this happens quite often. Perhaps your door is not that old, but simply has some damage to the varnish coating and the door leaf itself.

This happens most often. In this case, there is no need to completely remove the varnish - the surface is prepared for decoration by sanding the damaged areas.

First, with the help of a solvent applied to a napkin, stubborn dirt and dust are removed from the varnished surface. Then use coarse sandpaper to remove the layer of varnish on the damaged areas. After this treatment, the top layer of the coating will be erased and become whitish.

Refresh door photo retouching pencil

Don't let this scare you, to fix this you will need a retouching pencil. Such pencils are sold in a set, like ordinary felt-tip pens, only they contain stain as paint. The colors of such pencils usually correspond to wood tones.
The shade suitable for the restoration of a particular surface is simply selected according to a line drawn on a white sheet of paper. All scratches are retouched, after which they begin to repair large potholes. Here a pencil is no longer an assistant, but you need furniture wax. They melt it with a regular soldering iron, although you can also purchase a special heater, which you see in the photo below.
The deeper the pothole, the more wax you will need. In the depths of the recess, its color can be any, but the surface of the wax “stopper” should be a tone lighter than the door itself. After filling, the pothole is also retouched with neat strokes, and the place of the former damage is well camouflaged. It is better to do this in daylight so that you can correctly assess the match between the shades of the pencil, wax and the base color of the door.

Wax chalk for furniture

When not just a scratch is being eliminated, but a larger area of damage is being restored, it is possible, and even necessary, to use two pencils, with a dark and a light shade - this makes it easier to imitate a wood pattern. After repairing the damage, the door remains to be varnished. The easiest way to do this quickly and evenly is to use an aerosol can.

This restoration method is excellent for both wooden doors and veneered chipboard panels, which are most often found in apartment buildings. Watching a master class from a professional will help you better understand how to decorate old doors with your own hands.

Now let's look at how to update a wooden door. When we are dealing with a wooden blind door, it can be restored more radically, without selecting pencils by color, but by completely changing the decorative coating.

It can be painted in a non-standard way, covered with veneer, pasted with 3D wallpaper or made with interesting appliqués. There are quite a lot of options, but to implement them one thing is important - before implementing such decoration, the surface must be properly prepared.

Sanding the canvas with a sander

We have already talked about how to remove old paint manually. But those who have a grinder at their disposal will not need any blowtorch. By changing the attachments on the working surface of the machine, you can remove the paint and thoroughly sand the door leaf. Sanding will not only give a smooth surface, but will also open up the pores of the wood.

This is important if you want to tint its surface so that the natural texture of the wood is visible. After sanding, it is necessary to fill small potholes, knots and cracks in the canvas, after which the entire surface is coated with a primer for the appropriate purpose.

Only after this can we consider that the door leaf is prepared for further finishing.

Is it possible to repaint laminate flooring in a different color?

To understand whether a color change is really necessary, you need to understand which layers the paint is affecting. Any board, regardless of cost and class, consists of four layers:

external - made of paper, and to enhance the protective properties and service life, impregnated with resin and corundum;
the decorative layer is made of paper onto which a design is applied - imitation of wood;
the main supporting layer is usually made of thick, durable artificial material or solid wood;
bottom substrate.

The topmost layer is reinforced with waterproof film. When laminate is recently purchased and laid on the floor, it is not afraid of moisture. Over time, this protection disappears; even a small amount of liquid leads to damage to the floor covering.

Therefore, there is no clear answer to the question of whether it is permissible to paint laminate flooring. Manufacturers indicate on flooring packaging that the material cannot be coated with paint or varnish. Repair and finishing specialists also do not recommend covering laminate flooring with paint, citing a change in its performance properties.

Pros and cons of design with white doors

White is always appropriate. Its main advantage is that it is always and everywhere appropriate. It doesn’t matter what the interior looks like: classic, modern, art deco or Scandinavian - it makes no difference. Whatever interior you build, white will look modern and relevant everywhere. This is its unique property. That's why many people like it.
Light and space. White light reflects the sun's rays, so when they enter a room, they are reflected from the light walls, making it visually brighter and filled with air. In addition, it visually expands the space and raises the ceilings, so it is what you need for small rooms and dens.
Looks expensive. White baseboards, elegant doors and ceilings add elegance to any interior and look expensive.
With panels. Classic door leaves with panels always look good, but this does not apply to modern flat door designs, which will also go out of fashion in the near future, namely the classics.
Background for experiments. Another very important fact about the color white: due to its versatility and neutrality, this shade is an ideal field for experimentation. That is, if you want to change something in your apartment and are afraid of making a mistake, don’t be afraid, this color will stand up to everything.

Cons of white doors

White door designs have only one drawback. Spots and traces of dirt are clearly visible on the light surface. This is especially noticeable on white entrance doors. On the other hand, dust and fingerprints are easily visible on dark surfaces. Therefore, it is enough to regularly clean and keep the apartment clean to eliminate this drawback.

What is the difference between wood varnish for exterior and interior use?

Experts divide paint and varnish materials according to several criteria, one of which is operating conditions. Thus, products located in the open air are subject to the negative effects of natural factors, due to which the tree constantly swells and contracts. In this regard, varnishes for external use form an elastic film on the treated surfaces, which allows the wood to easily withstand regular changes in size.

At the same time, it is impossible to use compositions intended for interior work for these purposes - such materials do not have sufficient elasticity, and therefore will not be able to provide the surface with the necessary protection.

Decoration options

A door made of natural wood can be decorated in a variety of ways. You can, of course, simply paint it with stain and cover it with fresh varnish.

To finish wooden panels, you can also use methods used in interior design. It all depends on what kind of wood will be under the removed paint.

If it is beech, walnut, alder, or, for example, ash, their texture should not be hidden under a layer of paint. These are valuable rocks, and they naturally have a beautiful pattern, which only needs to be emphasized by covering it with azure or patina. It will look very interesting if the door has a paneled design.

Read Installing MDF panels on doors

Panel door covered with veneer

After sanding, it is easier to cover a panel door made of birch or pine with veneer made from valuable species (see Veneered doors: what is it and how is it done), and then tint it. It is quite possible to get the result you see in the picture above if the surface of the door is well prepared.
The beauty of the veneered surface will leave few people indifferent, but today no one will be surprised by the wood pattern. In addition, this is the most expensive way to restore doors. Many homeowners prefer to make an ordinary door original, using non-standard techniques for this purpose.

Original door design: piano keys

This does not require any special knowledge, but rather wild imagination. So, having decided to restore one or more doors, it would be a good idea to organize a competition between adults and even small inhabitants of the house for the best offer. Or maybe it makes sense to borrow a ready-made idea, such as in the example we have proposed. The piano keys on the interior door look interesting, don’t they?

Such design can be done by applying an artistic drawing, and it’s good if one of the household members has such talents. Otherwise, it is much easier to look for photo wallpaper with a similar or other interesting design - rather than hire an artist to decorate the door.

Decoupage technique

To decorate a door leaf, any door, not just a wooden one, you can use another, very popular method. This is a technique called by the beautiful French word “decoupage” (see How to decoupage doors with your own hands). What it is? Essentially, this is an applique cut from fabric, wallpaper and other rolled materials, and pasted onto a hard surface.

Stores also sell ready-made cards for decoupage. Using this method, the door can be decorated in the same style as the walls, curtains or cabinet furniture. Moreover, you can decorate not only the door itself, but also the wall around the perimeter of the opening.
Another type of decoupage is stenciling. To create it, just buy a stencil made of polymer film from a store that sells handicrafts, and stamp the design onto a canvas that has already been painted with background paint. Several patterns around its perimeter, at eye level or around glass inserts, will transform the door like nothing else.

Decoupage door in chalkboard style

If desired, you can even imitate an inlaid surface with the help of applications and drawings. The style and quality of finishing will depend on the materials used for the decoration - and, of course, on the time and money that you intend to spend on it. By the way, you can also use ordinary interior stickers to decorate the door (see Do-it-yourself decorative door decoration: choosing options).
If the door is in good condition, that is, its surface does not require repair, the door leaf does not even need to be removed from the hinges. In this case, it needs to be cleaned of dust deposits, the greasy film removed from the surface, covered with a primer and painted with paint, the shade of which should become the background for the application.
The door can also be decorated in a patchwork style, using bright squares of fabric or wallpaper, pasted in a similar way to a multi-colored patchwork quilt. A similar version of decoupage can be applied to the insert. Let's say the door was previously glazed: the glass broke or its appearance simply does not match your interior.

Unusual door inserts

In this case, instead of glazing, you can make an excellent insert from a piece of plywood, decorated in one of the listed ways. And by the way, the decoupage technique is great for decorating the glass itself - only its surface should not be corrugated.

The process of decorating depends on what materials you use for this. If these are decals or interior stickers, you need to refer to the manufacturer's instructions.

The paper and fabric are glued to PVA, the edges are sealed with putty, treated with zero-grade sandpaper and varnished.

Surface varnishing

After opening the jar of the composition, stir it slowly before covering the door with varnish. This condition is important, because only with slow stirring will air bubbles not form. Pour a small amount of the composition into the bath, after securing the door horizontally. With the frame, of course, everything is more complicated, which is why when painting it, the drips are simply sanded off.

To ensure that the transitions between layers are unnoticeable, it is important to apply the varnish quickly. The layers are applied in an overlapping direction and there must be at least 3 of them. Before applying the next layer, you must make sure that the previous layer is completely dry. Varnishes have different drying speeds, so read the instructions to find out how quickly the composition you buy dries.

As for the panels, they are usually varnished with a small brush. Streaks, sagging and stains are removed with sandpaper, with the exception of the top layer. While the coat of varnish is drying, the roller or brush can be stored in a jar of varnish or a tightly wrapped bag.

So, if you follow the above-mentioned simple tips, varnishing the door will take place without difficulty and in a short time. Perhaps you have questions on the topic or some comments about the article. We are waiting for your comments.

Rules of care

Glossy doors, despite their soiling, are quite unpretentious. The only thing they require in their care is regularity. Make sure that the doors are clean and that there are no marks on their surface in a manner similar to polished furniture - by rubbing with a soft cloth using polishing agents that do not contain abrasive particles.

Thus, when deciding to purchase glossy interior doors, pay attention not only to the price range of the products, but also to the manufacturing technology and materials, as well as the functionality of decoration. If the features of caring for a shiny surface are not a deterrent to your purchase, they will delight you with their spectacular appearance and reliability in operation for many years.