Paint A Door In Half The Time With A Wood Plank Trick

Painting a door can feel like a never-ending battle. Leave it installed on its hinges and you're faced with the frustration of drips pooling at the bottom and uneven strokes. Painting your door hinges could be a big mistake, so it's not an option either. Take it off and lay it flat on the ground and you'll likely spend as much time hunching over and flipping the door as you do painting it. This tedious balancing act has left many DIYers searching for a better way, and some found that painting a door takes half the time with a wood plank trick.

This simple method involves attaching wooden planks to the bottom of the door, which can then allow you to paint all sides without interruption. These planks will serve as feet that will help the door stand on its own without being attached to hinges. By elevating the door and enabling easy rotation, you can achieve a smooth and professional finish without back-breaking effort or wasted hours waiting for one side to dry before flipping it over. This might just be the perfect go-to painting method for you if efficiency and flawless results are your goals, especially if you do this alongside other clever tips and tricks you need when painting your doors.

This wood plank trick begins by removing the door from its hinges and placing it on a sturdy and elevated surface like a table. You should then proceed to screw two planks to the bottom edge of the door with one at each end. The planks should extend a few inches beyond the width of the door to provide stability. Just ensure that the screws used to attach the planks aren't too long since you don't want them piercing through the door's surface. You can proceed to prop the door up on the ground once the planks are securely attached. This setup elevates the door slightly off the ground and prevents wet paint from smudging when you flip it over. It also acts as a pivot point that allows you to easily rotate the door for even and uninterrupted brush strokes. Once the paint has fully dried, just unscrew the planks and reattach the door to its hinges. But make sure to know the common mistakes to avoid when installing a door.

There are alternative approaches to this problem if you do not want to use screws on your door. One option is to use painter's risers, which can elevate the door off the ground and allow minimal contact with the surface. The issue with these small cone-shaped tools is that they don't offer the same stability as the wood plank trick. Plus, you would need to manually rotate the door to paint the other side since the door would be laid horizontally on the ground. Remember that preparation and patience is the key in painting your doors — whichever method you choose.