I want to paint a door that is currently stained/varnished. How is the best way to do it?

It is an interior/exterior door. I'm not sure if I should sand the door, prime, then paint. Or should I use a stripper, prime, then paint. Have any tips?I want to paint a door that is currently stained/varnished. How is the best way to do it?
When it comes to painting projects, 90% of the finished product starts with correctly prepping the surface.





First you need to clean the surface with TSP and then wipe it down with just a rag and clean water to remove the residue. You then need to knock the gloss down somewhat. This is done by lightly sanding the surface with a medium grit sanding sponge or paper. Remember, you are only knocking the gloss down, not trying to completly remove the varnish. After sanding wipe teh surface with a tack cloth to remove the coating of dust.





Your next step is to use the correct type of bonding primer. You want to use either an oil or solvent based primer since these will block any type of color bleed through which latex base primers do not. I personally like to use one called XIM primer sealer/bonder 400, I found it at Sherwin-Williams. It works great for sticking to almost anything, dries quickly, but has a very strong order, so make sure you have adequate ventialtion if using it.





After the recommended time you are ready to paint it with whatever you want.





Good luck!I want to paint a door that is currently stained/varnished. How is the best way to do it?
wash the door with tsp and bleach rinse and let dry. this will clean and degloss the door. apply gliddens gripper primer to the door. let dry according to drying time on label. then apply your top coat letting dry at least 4 hours between coats. use a good quality foam roller for a nice finish. first coat will not cover but dont put paint on to heavy. thin coats are better. foam roller for primer also
You should remove the old varnish (either by sanding or stripper, which ever works best for you) apply a primer, then paint the door. If you choose to use stripper, you will probably still need to do some light sanding.
I have done this a couple of times. You need to clean it really well. Use a wood cleaner like Murphy's Wood Soap and get all the grease and dirt off. And then sand it with a light paper. Be sure to get all of the dust off and then use a tacky cloth or moist rag to get the tiny particles left behind. Then you need a semigloss oil base paint and a really expensive good paint brush.


mask off the doorknob and lights if there are any and the hinges. then brush your paint on in a couple of light coats and sand inbetween each coat. My doors have been on the outside and inside both, and they still look good and have not peeled yet after about 6 years now. Just don't get the coats of paint too thick and let it dry good between coats.
If the current finish is in good condition you should be able to sand lightly with a 220 grit sand paper, be sure to get all of the dust off of the door, I use a damp cloth to remove the saw dust, then apply a good primer and paint. I used this process to refinish a door with a leaded glass insert for some friends of ours last year,, will be doing the other door on the front of the house this fall.
Use a good quality stripper first. Preferably a paste type, that you brush on. Let it work for 15- 20 min. Then scrape it off, but don't push too hard, you will scratch the door. If stain is particularly stubborn, use stripper 2 - 3 times on stubborn areas. When you have removed as much material as possible, sand the door, start with a #80 or #100 grit sand paper. Finish up with a #200 or higher to get a smooth finish. Apply a good stain blocking primer, like Kilz or Zinsers, and a good quailty exterior latex paint.


Oh, yeah, you have to take the door down to do all this properly.


Good luck, it is not an easy project.
depending on the condition of the door, smooth and not flaking, you could just sand prime and paint