Door painting in Exeter
Professional door painting services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-£110
Typical Duration
1-2 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Interior doors painted smooth with proper prep, clean edges, and a finish that lasts. No brush marks, no drips, just professional work that makes tired doors look new again.
Fresh Doors Transform a Room
Scuffed, chipped, grubby doors - you stop noticing them until suddenly you do and they're all you can see.
Fresh paint on your doors makes a massive difference to how finished and cared-for a room feels. It's one of those jobs where the effort really shows.
💡 Pro tip: Paint doors the same colour throughout the house for a cohesive look. Or go bold with a statement colour - door painting is an easy way to add personality.
Why Door Painting is Fiddly
It's not hard, it's just awkward and detailed:
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ DIY Reality |
|---|---|
| Smooth, even coat with no marks | Brush strokes and roller texture |
| Clean edges around hardware | Paint on hinges, handles, locks |
| Proper prep, paint sticks for years | Peeling within months |
| Panel grooves filled perfectly | Drips and thick patches in details |
The prep is what separates okay from professional - and that's the boring bit everyone skips.
What You Get
🔧 The Process
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Prep | Light sand to key surface, wipe clean, hardware masked |
| Undercoat | If needed for colour change or bare wood |
| Topcoat | Smooth application with proper technique |
| Detail Work | Clean edges, panel grooves, no paint on hardware |
📦 You're Left With
- Smooth painted door, no brush marks
- Clean hardware (no paint splatter)
- Professional finish that lasts
- Fresh look for the whole room
Pricing Guide
| Door Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Plain flush door | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 |
| 4-panel door | 1.5-2 hrs | £85-£110 |
| 6-panel or detailed door | 2 hrs | £110 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Frame adds ~1 hr. Multiple doors save on setup time.
Perfect For Your Project If...
✅ Refreshing a room - new paint on doors finishes the look
✅ Covering damage - chips, scratches, scuffs disappeared
✅ Changing colour scheme - white to grey, cream to bold colour
✅ Selling your house - fresh doors = cared-for property
✅ Post-renovation - builders have left paint splattered doors
Why Choose Us for Door painting in Exeter?
Smooth finish with no visible brush marks
Clean cutting-in around frame and hardware
Proper prep so paint actually sticks
Professional results that last for years
What to Expect
Step 1: Prep Work
I lightly sand the existing paint to give the new coat something to grip, wipe down to remove dust and grease, and mask off hardware (or remove handles if easier).
Step 2: Undercoat (if needed)
Big colour change or bare wood patches need undercoat first. This seals the surface and gives proper coverage. Skipping this = patchy finish that needs three topcoats instead of one undercoat and one topcoat.
Step 3: Topcoat & Detail
Smooth application using proper door-painting technique (panels first, then rails, then stiles for panelled doors). Clean edges where door meets frame. No paint on hinges or hardware. Let dry overnight before closing.
🔧 DIY Tips
Door painting is definitely DIY-able if you've got patience:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- 2" angled brush for edges and panels
- 4" brush or small roller for flat areas
- Fine sandpaper (120-180 grit)
- White spirit for cleaning gloss
- Masking tape for hardware
- Dust sheets
🎨 Prep is 80% of the job
- Light sand the whole door
- Wipe with damp cloth or white spirit
- Let dry completely
- Mask or remove hardware
- Now you can paint
🔧 Painting technique for panel doors
- Do panels first (the recessed bits)
- Then horizontal rails
- Then vertical stiles
- Finally the edges
- Work with the grain, smooth strokes
- Don't overbrush - paint dries brushy if you keep going over it
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Not sanding first (paint won't stick properly)
- Painting over grease/dirt (shows as rough patches)
- Too much paint = drips in panel grooves
- Closing door before it's properly dry (sticks to frame)
- Using matt emulsion on doors (marks easily, not durable)
💡 Pro trick: For a really smooth finish on gloss paint, lightly sand between coats with very fine sandpaper (240 grit). Wipe dust off thoroughly before the next coat. Takes longer but results are glass-smooth.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Redecorating the whole room? Paint doors last - after walls, ceiling, skirting. Saves them getting splattered. Or do them first if they're the only thing getting painted.
Multiple doors? Doing them all in one go saves setup time and you'll save on the per-door cost. Plus the paint matches perfectly (batches can vary slightly).
Old Exeter house with original doors? Victorian panel doors are beautiful - worth painting properly to keep them. Modern hollow doors are replaceable - sometimes new doors are cheaper than stripping and repainting really bad ones. I can advise when I see them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to take the door off to paint it?
Not usually. I can paint most doors in place - easier for you, quicker for me. The only exception is if you want both sides doing and the door's heavy or awkward to work around. I'll advise when I see it.
What paint finish - gloss, satin, or matt?
Most internal doors are satin (soft sheen) or gloss. Gloss is traditional, tough, wipes clean but shows imperfections. Satin is modern, softer look, hides defects better. Matt looks smart but marks easily. I'd suggest satin for most homes - good balance of durability and looks.
Can you paint over my old gloss paint?
Yes, but it needs proper prep. Light sand to key the surface, wipe clean, then undercoat if changing colour drastically. You can't just slap new gloss over old - it'll peel off within months. Proper prep takes time but that's what makes it last.
How long before I can close the door?
Touch-dry in a couple of hours usually, but I'd leave it overnight before closing properly. Paint needs 24 hours to harden enough that it won't stick to the frame. If you need to use it sooner, I can do one side at a time across two visits.
What about the door frame - does that cost extra?
Yes - frame is a separate job because it's fiddly cutting-in around the architrave and wall. Usually adds an hour. Most people do door and frame together though, looks much better. I can quote for both.
Door painting Also Available In:
Get a Free Quote in Exeter
Call us today for a free, no-obligation quote for your door painting job in Exeter.
01392 964094Request Online QuoteOur Rates
Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
Why Trust Us
Need Door painting in Exeter?
Get a free quote for your door painting job in Exeter today.