If you plan to stain or paint a composite door frame, you need to know the proper preparation steps and the appropriate application techniques or you may end up with a messy, disappointing result.
Things You Will Need
Staining a Composite Door Frame
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Wipe down the composite door frame with a cloth dampened with mineral spirits. Allow 15 minutes for the mineral spirits to evaporate.
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Cover the flooring with masking paper. Tape the paper down to prevent it from blowing up and sticking to the wet stain.
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Apply blue painter's tape to any areas you want protected from stain. Frame the walls surrounding the composite door frame with blue painter's tape if you are an inexperienced painter and believe you may have problems with brush control.
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Pour the stain into the 5-gallon bucket. Fill it to about two-thirds capacity.
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Apply stain to the composite door frame using the 3- to 4-inch oil-based paintbrush. Brush vertically. Do not overapply as stain is thin in density and can easily splatter and drip.
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Allow the stain to dry for two hours. Apply additional coats for a darker finish.
Painting a Composite Door Frame
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Cover the flooring with masking paper. Tape the paper down to prevent it from blowing up and sticking to the wet paint.
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Apply blue painter's tape to any areas you want protected from paint. Frame the walls surrounding the composite door frame with blue painter's tape if you are an inexperienced painter and believe you may have problems with brush control.
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Pour the primer into the 5-gallon bucket. Fill it about halfway.
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Apply primer to the composite door frame using a 3- to 4-inch latex-based paintbrush. Brush vertically, being careful to smooth any runs or drips.
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Allow the primer to dry for two hours.
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Clean the paintbrush with warm water. Shake the brush vigorously to remove excess primer.
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Apply paint to the composite door frame in the same manner in which you applied primer.
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Allow the paint to dry for two hours. Apply additional coats if necessary.
The Drip Cap
- Painting a door frame is a simple project.
- Cover the flooring with masking paper.
- Frame the walls surrounding the composite door frame with blue painter's tape if you are an inexperienced painter and believe you may have problems with brush control.
- Apply stain to the composite door frame using the 3- to 4-inch oil-based paintbrush.
- Apply additional coats for a darker finish.
- Allow the paint to dry for two hours.