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Doors, window frames and furniture of solid wood are robust and long-lasting, but now and again they need freshening up. With a little time, the right tools and our guide, you can easily give worn wooden surfaces a new lease on life. Always wear gloves and a fine dust mask when stripping paint and sanding to protect your health.
1. Preparation
For best results, remove doors and windows from their frames, place on two trestles and remove all fittings such as handles and screens, or mask them – for example with tesa® painter's. Don't forget the panes in windows. Thoroughly clean all surfaces to be painted.
Surfaces and lines in a different color present no problems with tesa® painter's tape.
Thinly coated, smooth and well-adhering old coats can be simply sanded. 80 grit sandpaper is all that you need. If the old coat is cracked or flaking, it must be completely removed. The same applies if you want to varnish a painted door as the grain should be visible through it.
Thick or multi-layered coats of paints can be removed with paint stripper. There are solvent and alkaline paint strippers. Alkaline paint strippers are not suitable for all types of wood and paints/varnishes. Ask for advice about when you make your purchase. Solvent paint strippers can be used with all types of paint. Apply the paint stripper liberally with a wide brush.
Thick or multi-layered coats of paints can be removed with paint stripper. There are solvent and alkaline paint strippers. Alkaline paint strippers are not suitable for all types of wood and paints/varnishes. Ask for advice about when you make your purchase. Solvent paint strippers can be used with all types of paint. Apply the paint stripper liberally with a wide brush.
Important: When working with paint stripper, you should always wear solvent-resistant gloves, protective goggles and a breathing mask with a carbon filter and ensure the room is well ventilated. It is best to work outside. Stripped paint is hazardous waste and should be disposed of accordingly.
After the designated processing time, you can remove the dissolved layer of paint with a trowel. Repeat the process several times if necessary. Now clean the surface according to the manufacturer's instructions, otherwise residues of paint stripper could impair the new coat.
Alternatively, you can use a hot air blower. The heat softens the paint so that it can be removed with a trowel. Make sure that the wood does not get too hot and burns. Working with a hot air blower may also release toxic vapors. You should thus always wear a breathing mask with a carbon filter.
Alternatively, you can use a hot air blower. The heat softens the paint so that it can be removed with a trowel. Make sure that the wood does not get too hot and burns. Working with a hot air blower may also release toxic vapors. You should thus always wear a breathing mask with a carbon filter.
3. Repairing damage
Cracks and holes must be filled with wood filler or putty before painting. This is especially important for windows and outside doors as cracks in the surface may result in moisture seeping into the material, which could cause damage. Leave the filler to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions and sand it smooth.
4. Priming
Before applying paint or varnish, you should use a suitable protective wood primer. It reduces the wood's ability to absorb moisture and improves paint adhesion. Priming soft woods such as pine and spruce for outside use with anti-sapstain protects against blue stain fungi. Ask for advice when choosing a primer. It must be suitable for the paint and/or varnish. After priming the surfaces, lightly sand them again (180 to 240 grit).
tesa® painter's tape for varnishes
a. Varnishes
Weatherproof varnishes or wood paints are strongly recommended for windows and doors facing outside. These are generally high build varnishes. The coat will be especially smooth if the surface is lightly sanded again after the first coat has dried. Remove any sanding dust, clean and apply another coat to the dry surface. A special varnish brush should be used to apply the varnish, always parallel to the grain. First apply the varnish and then distribute evenly. Because varnishes are highly fluid floors and window sills and anything else you want protected should be covered with plastic sheeting or masking tape.
b. Varnishing
Before varnishing, surfaces should be clean and free of grease and dust. Oil and water on the wood prevents the varnish from spreading evenly and creates droplets after a while. The result would be unevenness and color variations. Depending on the condition of the door or window, several coats may have to be applied for a good result. After the first coat, leave the varnish to dry, then lightly sand the surface (180 to 220 grit) and varnish again.
Weatherproof varnishes or wood paints are strongly recommended for windows and doors facing outside. These are generally high build varnishes. The coat will be especially smooth if the surface is lightly sanded again after the first coat has dried. Remove any sanding dust, clean and apply another coat to the dry surface. A special varnish brush should be used to apply the varnish, always parallel to the grain. First apply the varnish and then distribute evenly. Because varnishes are highly fluid floors and window sills and anything else you want protected should be covered with plastic sheeting or masking tape.
b. Varnishing
Before varnishing, surfaces should be clean and free of grease and dust. Oil and water on the wood prevents the varnish from spreading evenly and creates droplets after a while. The result would be unevenness and color variations. Depending on the condition of the door or window, several coats may have to be applied for a good result. After the first coat, leave the varnish to dry, then lightly sand the surface (180 to 220 grit) and varnish again.