Painted doors, came out dimply

[PeteWilliams]

I've painted a new door and I'm not happy with the finish. It's not smooth at all.

There's a picture here which is a close-up and directly under a spotlight, so it really shows up the texture - in reality it doesn't look nearly as bad as this!!

Here's what I did to get here:

• Bought a brand new Wickes flush door
• Sanded it down with 240
• Washed clean with white spirit
• Painted with two coats of Leyland Trade Acrylic Primer Undercoat White - applied with a gloss roller
• Sanded down with 240, wiped clean
• Painted with one coat of Dulux Quick Dry Eggshell - applied with a gloss roller
• Sanded down with 600, wiped clean

Both paints were a couple years old, but well mixed with a paint mixing drill attachement.

Any suggestions of what I've done wrong and how I can fix it?

Cheers

Pete

 

[JohnD]

paint rollers leave a textured finish.

 

[Tigercubrider]

It does look a bit rough- why rub down as a final?

 

[endecotp]

I think the dimples are due to using a roller. Try a brush.

The vertical scratches we can also see in the photo are due to you sanding after painting.

 

[PeteWilliams]

Thanks all, I'll try again with a brush.
I guess I should just sand it back before trying again, but with what grade? As you can see, my 600 just seemed to make things worse!

 

[PeteWilliams]

Any suggestions before I tackle it this evening?
I want to get it nice and smooth before repainting, but my previous attempt suggests sanding will just make it worse…!

 

[endecotp]

I want to get it nice and smooth before repainting, but my previous attempt suggests sanding will just make it worse…!

Sanding before painting is fine, both to flatten any imperfections and to give the surface some roughness for the paint to stick to.

But sanding after painting the top coat is... a very strange thing to do.

 

[JohnD]

If you used a water-based gloss, I think you will find it very difficult to sand. It may roll up under the paper.

The paint might be harder in a month or two.

When you can sand it, unhang it and lie it flat, and give it a coat of thinned liquid gloss.

 

[Robbie uk]

You need to get it on with a deeper pile roller to get enough paint on the door, and then lay it off with a decent brush.