How can I attach stained planks to a hollow door and hide the flaws, trim, hinges, and make it aesthetically pleasing on a budget?
So, we painted all the doors in the house before putting it on the market and turns out they used latex over oil based paint, so peeling them off is not as easy as we thought. We can’t afford to replace all the doors, but the one at the end of the hallway is really bothering me. My idea is to add 2″ stained planks to it and extend them to form an arch above for a nicer look. I think I’ll need to cut a thin piece of wood the size of the door to cover any imperfections, and then attach the planks to that. Do you think a nail gun would work for this? I’m not sure how to secure it to a hollow door, any ideas? And about the trim, should I just take it down and spackle since we plan on replacing it anyway? Is there a way to hide the hinges?
I’m also thinking of planking the whole wall and cutting out the door so it’s hidden, like in that photo I saw. What do you think? Thanks for any advice!
You can probably purchase a slab door for around $120. It might be best to tackle one door at a time, whenever you have the budget, instead of trying to do them all at once.
Hey, have you considered getting a door slab? You might find some at used or discount/surplus stores for a cheap or even free. It’s not worth the trouble to try fixing this one. Last weekend, my local surplus store had a sale on door slabs for less than $30 each.
I also have some of this at home. Before we purchased it, the entire house was painted with latex over oil-based paint.
When you just replace the door slab, you’ll encounter the same paint issue with the jambs, casing, and doorstop.
If you’re going to change the door, I recommend getting a pre-hung door so you can start fresh with the paint. That’s what I would do, one opening at a time.
It’s a stretch to assume that they repainted the jambs along with the doors just because that was the case in your situation.
I find it hard to believe that someone would paint the house before selling it but not bother to paint the jambs and doors.
Alternatively, you can simply apply a coat of primer and repaint.
I think you can purchase paint removers.
You have the option to attach it to the empty door.
You can use a heat gun to easily remove the latex. After that, you can paint with oil-based paint.
Try to sand as well as possible using 80 grit sandpaper. I am using breakthrough PPG paint from Home Depot, apply 2-3 coats and lightly sand with 120 between coats. It should take about 2 hours.
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I recommend opting for a hidden door. It’s a fantastic project to undertake.
I suggest focusing on repainting first before moving on to attaching things to doors. Even with new doors, painting is still necessary. Installing new doors requires morticing for hinges and locks, which is not recommended for beginners.
No way
If I were you, I’d consider priming and painting the doors.
You could try lightly sanding the doors first. Then apply a coat of alkaline based primer before using a water-based paint for two coats. It should turn out great!
To create an arch, a significant structural change to the wall is necessary.