How To Paint A Door Without Brush Marks (In 9 Easy Steps)

It is completely possible to front door paint with a brush, but it may not always be the best tool for the professional paint job.

Professional painters are more likely to use paint sprayers, or spray paint as they will allow them to carry out jobs quickly, with a neater or semi gloss finish to their work.

But if used correctly, paint brushes can also make any front door paint look professionally painted and brand new. 

There are a number of reasons why you may end up with brush marks on your finished doors.

These can include using the wrong technique when painting, loading up too much paint on your brush, not properly preparing your front door before painting, and more.

Follow these handy steps to avoid leaving any unsightly streaks behind. 

You will need:  

It may be best to remove the door from its hinges before painting it. This will minimize the risk of drips and runs, along with preventing the excess paint from dripping onto furniture or flooring. 

Should you be looking to paint your interior door frame along with your front door, make sure to protect the wall and floor around the area with painter's tape and drop cloths.  

Cover any areas on the front door that you don't want to be covered in paint. This will include the hinges, handles, latches, peepholes, windows, or other features.

Also, it's imperative to cover any metal door areas you don't want to be scuffed before sanding.  

Prepare the room or area you will be painting in. If you are not removing the front door from its hinges, protect the floor and nearby furniture with a drop cloth and the surrounding walls with painter's tape. 

If you are removing the front door from its hinges, it may be a good idea to attach the front door to two sawhorses.

This will allow you to rotate the door and paint both sides at the same time, saving time and effort as both will dry at the same time.  

Before sanding your door, ensure any paint used on it previously didn’t contain lead. If you are concerned, use a lead testing kit.

Sanding the front door will remove any blemishes, such as previous brush marks from old paint jobs or previous paint jobs. It also creates a better surface for the primer to attach to, giving you a smoother finish on your front door.  

If your front door is wooden, you may need to use caulk and spackle to fill in any small holes or blemishes in the wood. If left, they may spoil the finish. Add spackle to any small holes, allow to dry, and lightly sand. Caulk the inside of panels and other intersections.  

Then use 100-grit sandpaper to remove any other blemishes such as paint chip or chipped paint, runs, or old brush strokes. This can be done with an orbital sander or a sanding sponge. Take care not to apply too much pressure to the orbital sander as you use it as this may damage the sander or the door, or leave the surface of the door uneven. 

Sanding pads can be used to reach any grooves, around panels, or other designs on the door. Then smooth the surface with 120 - 150-grit sandpaper. Remove all sanding dust with your vacuum cleaner, as any remaining dust may affect the finish on your front door. Clean with a damp cloth and allow to dry. 

If your door is metal, first remove any grease with a degreasing cleaner. Tape up any parts that will need to be protected from sanding or painting. Then, sand down any dents using 80-grit sandpaper before applying a patching compound to cover the dents. Wait 40 minutes for it to dry, then level with 150-grit sandpaper.

When blemishes are no longer visible, sand the entire door with 400-grit sandpaper. This will rough up the surface of the door, allowing the primer and paint to adhere better. Take care when sanding not to damage your door. 

For a fiberglass door, first, remove any weatherstripping from the door with a soft-bristled brush. If any remains, then use a dry cloth. Finally, wash with dish soap and warm water, allow to dry thoroughly, then apply paint.  

Apply primer to your door. It's a good idea to apply at least two, if not three, coats. This gives a good surface for the paint to be applied to, giving it a good chance of sticking well and resulting in a smoother finish.

Sand the surface lightly between each light coat of primer, after first allowing the primer to dry completely. Ensure all primer and paints used on the door are the most appropriate for the materials of the door. When sanding over the primer, take care not to strip all of the primer away. 

When all layers of primer have dried and been sanded, it is time to begin painting. Add conditioner to your paint to prevent it from drying out too quickly and to aid it in applying a thin and even fresh coat to the surface it is painted on.

This will also help the paint job level out properly while it dries, resulting in the smoothest finish possible. 

Make sure to add floetrol to water-based paints and penetrol to oil based paint job. Before painting, ensure the environment isn't too hot or cold, or lacks humidity. The hotter the room is, the quicker the oil based paint will dry and may not level out correctly. 

This will enable you to create a smoother, even finish and minimize blemishes and avoid brush marks. When using brushes or foam roller on wooden interior doors or cabinet doors, follow the grain of the wood and take note when this changes across the surface. Never paint perpendicular to the grain. 

When applying paint try and make your light coats as possible. Don't overload the brush with paint or dip the bristles entirely into the paint. 

Always tap the brush on the side of the can to remove any excess. The thicker your coats of paint are, the more you risk drips and runs, especially if you paint a door without brush marks and standing upright.  

Apply two coats of paint to your door, allowing the first to fully dry and lightly sanding and paint a door without brush marks again before applying the second coat. This will remove any brush strokes from the first coat and allow you to create a really smooth finish.

Should you need to touch up any areas, add a tiny bit of paint onto a brush and lightly apply to the desired areas. 

Allow your door to dry thoroughly before hanging it back on the hinges.  

A foam roller will allow you to apply a more even first coat at than a brush while also minimizing brush strokes and overlap. With a velour cover, you can get a really smooth finish to your door.

However, it may be harder to reach all the grooves and dips, especially in a paneled or detailed door. 

A paint sprayer will give the most even first coat of paint, but it can be expensive to buy and take longer to set up, and then clean afterward.

If you aren't going to be needing it regularly, it may not make good sense to invest in a paint sprayer and instead brush up on your hand painting skills!

There’s nothing more disappointing than blemishes and brush marks left behind when you’ve worked hard on painting a door.

Hopefully the tips above will give you the best chance possible of avoiding brush marks in your next project.