Holloway Painting

How to Paint a Door Frame, the Right Way

The process of how to paint a door frame should focus a lot with proper preparation. This is a step many people skip and they pay for it with poor results: a bad paint job. You will need to remove all the attachments that are on the door frame. After removing obstacles on the frame, give it a good sanding.  After sanding comes cleaning the dust and debris:

  • Small specks of dust can be very visible when painted over.

When you got the frame nice and cleared off is when you will start taping off the area around it. The final step will be painting the actual door frame. With all the proper preparation completed, you can get to painting and have a beautiful looking door frame. If you want a perfect paint job on your door frame, you can also contact a local BC painting professional.

door frame

How to Paint a Door Jamb Summary

  1. Remove all obstacles on the frame.
  2. Sand the frame.
  3. Clean and dust off the frame.
  4. Tape off and protect the area around.
  5. Paint the door frame.

Removing Items Off the Door Frame

Not removing obstacles when painting a door frame is a good way to make your paint job look low quality. Remove all the things attached to the frame. Remove the little strike plate that will most likely be on your frame:

  • The strike plate is the little metal piece that is in the door frame. The latch in the door knob goes inside of this.
  • The purpose of a strike plate is to protect the door frame/ door jamb from the knob latch going in and out hundreds of times year after year.

If you are painting an exterior door jamb, then remove the doorbell if you have one. Then comes the actual door. Remove the door by unscrewing the hinges off the frame. Leave them attached to the door for easy instillation after painting.

Sanding the Door Frame

After your frame is all cleared off, begin the sanding process. You should use sand paper that is around 100 grit:

  • Sandpaper grit that is around 100 would be classified as medium-grade.

Sand the door frame until the old paint is removed and there are no marks or groves left. You want the frame nice and smooth.

Clean the Door Frame

Now that the frame is well sanded, you need to properly clean the door jamb. Unfortunately, this is a step that is skipped over a lot. Doing this will give you a paint job with a lot of imperfections. To avoid these imperfections, use a clean brush to dust off the debris made from sanding. You should also use this brush to clean out holes, such as the strike plate hole and area where the hinges were. After you are done this initial dusting, use a 2nd clean brush to finish up the left-over debris.

Tape Off the Door Frame

With a nice clean door frame, you can start taping off the area around and protect the floor. Use a good quality painter’s tape as to not leave tape residue. Tape off the area around the frame but also remember to protect the floor from paint. You can place paper on the ground around the frame to protect the floor.

Painting the Frame

Now the final step will be painting the frame. You can use a primer first or paint that is paint and primer all in one. Start with the outside edge first using a paint brush that is around an inch wide. An inch wide brush will not allow for too much paint buildup on the face of the frame. After the outside edges, you can paint the face and the inside area where the door sits. After the paint is dry, you can re-attach everything you took off. And if you want an amazing look for your frame, you can always use a professional.