Properly Painting Panel Doors

rocco

I recently got a handout on how to properly paint a panel door and it states I should paint the bottom edge of the door. I admit I never do this since I never take the doors off the hinges to paint them. I won't diagree with the handout but would like to know how many guys really do paint the bottom edge and for what purpose. I assume it's simply to seal the door. Please sound off. Thanks again.

Traditions

I use door deckers and always spray my doors. therefore they do get the tops and bottoms. However, I work for a contractor that is anal about this. He sometimes takes doors off just to check if they are done. He claims they can bow over time if not painted. Don't know if its true or not. They make those little slide things to paint under doors like you are talking about.

ProWallGuy

Exterior, yes.
Interior, no, unless the top/bottom edge can be seen from above/below.

When I do paint the top/bottom edge, I use this so I don't have to ake it off the hinges:

Small red plastic throw-away pad painter

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Wallpaper Hanger St. Louis
Digital Murals Installation

Brian

PWG,

I'm really curious about what kind of doors you are painting that the bottom edge can be seen. I understand the top edge being seen in some situations, but I can't envision one where the bottom can be seen--unless your customers are ants

Brian Phillips

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Houston Interior Painting
Houston Exterior Painting
Houston Painting Contractor

Traditions

door at the top of a stairway maybe?

Woz the Painter

It's not a matter of being able to see the bottom edge, technically they should be painted [sealed] to keep moisture from warping the door..

Miniroller

Door Tops and bottoms have to be painted/sealed for warranty reasons. at least on new doors usually

Richard

Dude---this statement is true.

Paint the tops and bottoms if they are brand new doors. If they already have been painted and in place, you'll never catch me taking them off the hinges...

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Rich

ProWallGuy

Well, you got me there. I can only remember 2 recent jobs off the top of my head now that I had to do the bottoms, and they were at the top of a stairwell. The stairs led down to the newly remodeled basement, and you could see them if they were opened.

I once did sub work for a contractor that demanded all 6 sides be covered, so I used the little pad thingys.

But obviously a lot of the tops can be seen from floors above. I also agree that painting top/bottom will protect the warranty, and keep the doors from warping, but if someone has so much moisture inside their home that their doors will warp, well.....they got much bigger problems than just a couple doors.

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Wallpaper Hanger St. Louis
Digital Murals Installation

Danahy

I honestly don't remember if I've ever painted any doors that were warped... I've seen many doors with the top and bottom not painted though...

Joewho

It's true, doors will warp from moisture getting in the top, bottom or sides.

I did a house in Kenilworth IL for a log home builder. Exposed timber and frame. The first thing they wanted me to do was stain and finish the back door. Well, it was winter and the door was already warped. A very expensive door.

I did as they asked, about a month later the carpenters tried blaming me for the warping, saying I didn't get to it soon enough.

This is where knowing a little bit about wood and carpentry come in handy. If I hadn't seen the warping before I touched it, I might have been stuck for that door. While I was at it, I pointed out some damage that had been done to it before I got to it. I repaired it best I could, but it was still damaged.

Bottom line, if you work in areas where there is moisture, humidity, it's best to do all edges. I've been on repaints where the customer wanted the bottom edge painted and I do have a little tool with a pad on the end to get the bottoms.