We speak as professional DIYers *irony*: >We are currently in the learning phase where everything always ends up being much more expensive than expected, and online research doesn’t necessarily provide realistic prices – or does it?
“Problem”: We probably underestimated the cost for interior doors, at least if we want to buy them locally in stores instead of online. The dimensions are standard, 3 times 198.5x86 cm (78.1x33.9 inches) and 2 times 198.5x73 cm (78.1x28.7 inches).
The current doors are 22 years old, still in good condition apart from the door handles, but they have an orange tint that we don’t like visually. The existing laminate flooring (also brownish-orange) matches the doors but probably no longer fits our idea of a new floor.
The owner once suggested the idea of only replacing the door panels, but then the frames would not match the color of the doors anymore, right? We want white door panels or doors in a light wood finish.
Anyway, based on some online research, we thought that for about 120 euros (around $130), you could definitely get good door panels, especially since there are appealing doors online for around 70 euros (about $75) at first glance.
In a local specialist store, we nearly had a heart attack, as even the simplest white doors including the frame and handle barely cost less than 500 euros (about $540).
Or were we simply looking in an overpriced store?
We cannot replace frames ourselves. We have a trained carpenter among our acquaintances who once agreed to help us. We initially thought that replacing 5 door frames, door panels, and handles would take about 2 hours? Probably another miscalculation?
If we were to have the doors fully installed by a professional, based on your experience, what would be a rough estimate for 5 doors?
We originally didn’t want to order online because we thought: the doors might not fit afterward, complaints and returns might be much more complicated than buying locally, sometimes extremely high shipping costs, etc. But since these are basically standard sizes, given the local prices and our miscalculation, we are now uncertain whether we should consider ordering doors, frames, and so on online after all?
“Problem”: We probably underestimated the cost for interior doors, at least if we want to buy them locally in stores instead of online. The dimensions are standard, 3 times 198.5x86 cm (78.1x33.9 inches) and 2 times 198.5x73 cm (78.1x28.7 inches).
The current doors are 22 years old, still in good condition apart from the door handles, but they have an orange tint that we don’t like visually. The existing laminate flooring (also brownish-orange) matches the doors but probably no longer fits our idea of a new floor.
The owner once suggested the idea of only replacing the door panels, but then the frames would not match the color of the doors anymore, right? We want white door panels or doors in a light wood finish.
Anyway, based on some online research, we thought that for about 120 euros (around $130), you could definitely get good door panels, especially since there are appealing doors online for around 70 euros (about $75) at first glance.
In a local specialist store, we nearly had a heart attack, as even the simplest white doors including the frame and handle barely cost less than 500 euros (about $540).
Or were we simply looking in an overpriced store?
We cannot replace frames ourselves. We have a trained carpenter among our acquaintances who once agreed to help us. We initially thought that replacing 5 door frames, door panels, and handles would take about 2 hours? Probably another miscalculation?
If we were to have the doors fully installed by a professional, based on your experience, what would be a rough estimate for 5 doors?
We originally didn’t want to order online because we thought: the doors might not fit afterward, complaints and returns might be much more complicated than buying locally, sometimes extremely high shipping costs, etc. But since these are basically standard sizes, given the local prices and our miscalculation, we are now uncertain whether we should consider ordering doors, frames, and so on online after all?
C
Caspar202016 Mar 2017 12:12So if the interior doors are standard and without many complications, renovating the doors is quite straightforward. Also, the doors of @TE don’t sound like they have been painted multiple times.
If there are holes in the door, they can be easily repaired with wood filler.
Just start with the first frame/door and then assess the situation.
The important thing is to use a high-quality paint. Don’t go for the cheapest option from the hardware store.
If there are holes in the door, they can be easily repaired with wood filler.
Just start with the first frame/door and then assess the situation.
The important thing is to use a high-quality paint. Don’t go for the cheapest option from the hardware store.
Winniefred, I can quite well imagine that it would go the same way for us. My husband and I are really not handy at all. Our time is limited, and time is money, after all. It makes no sense to spend three days working on a door, only for it to still look terrible in the end and convince yourself you saved money.
As for the door panels themselves, they should still be fine for 22 years, but they definitely have some blemishes, so the "substrate" would need some repairs for sure. Since these are standard sizes and, because of the kids, we don’t want to buy anything expensive at first, we think we can manage with 100 euros per door panel, and the 500 euros wouldn’t really justify spending hours painting and repairing the panels.
We will take a close look at the door frames as well, but I don’t think there are any damages there, and I like the idea of painting them. The surface area is quite manageable.
What exactly do we need in terms of materials? The frames are definitely still in their original condition, never been painted. Will I need sandpaper? Or just a high-quality paint or lacquer? We want to change them from orange-brown to white.
As for the door panels themselves, they should still be fine for 22 years, but they definitely have some blemishes, so the "substrate" would need some repairs for sure. Since these are standard sizes and, because of the kids, we don’t want to buy anything expensive at first, we think we can manage with 100 euros per door panel, and the 500 euros wouldn’t really justify spending hours painting and repairing the panels.
We will take a close look at the door frames as well, but I don’t think there are any damages there, and I like the idea of painting them. The surface area is quite manageable.
What exactly do we need in terms of materials? The frames are definitely still in their original condition, never been painted. Will I need sandpaper? Or just a high-quality paint or lacquer? We want to change them from orange-brown to white.
What you need to paint door frames: first, clean them with denatured alcohol and water, like cleaning windows, but without soap! This also removes grease. Acetone can be used as well but is more toxic. Second, sand with a sanding block and wet sandpaper, starting with 200 grit, then 300 grit (250–350 grit is also fine, just start with coarser and then go finer). Use wet sandpaper to avoid dust, since you’re working indoors. The wet sandpaper should be dipped in water, and the frame moistened with a sponge—that’s how it is.
After sanding, the surface should be smooth and matte. Remove any dust. Swiffer cloths work well.
Then take a break. The work needs to rest and settle.
Next, mask with painter’s tape or a similar product at the floor and along the edges. When painting, you shouldn’t worry about avoiding overlaps but rather paint quickly and confidently. That’s why masking is important!
Now for the paint. Buy good quality paint. Get advice if needed. Good companies include Herbol, Sto, Sikkens/Akzo Nobel, for example. Choose alkyd or polyurethane (PU) paint. They contain solvents but provide a better flow than water-based acrylics. The surface will be smoother for beginners. Buy paint rollers specifically designed for solvent-based paints. Be sure to ask for these! They have fine pores and create an even surface; with good paint, the orange peel effect will disappear. Pour some paint into a clean, small container like an empty potato salad tub or similar. Roll the frame once—don’t apply too thickly to avoid runs and drips. Let it dry. The next day, apply a second coat. That should be enough. The key to the entire process is patience.
Oh, and if there is a rubber seal, remove it before painting. Also, take the door leaf off. Have fun. It’s an almost artistic, meditative activity.
After sanding, the surface should be smooth and matte. Remove any dust. Swiffer cloths work well.
Then take a break. The work needs to rest and settle.
Next, mask with painter’s tape or a similar product at the floor and along the edges. When painting, you shouldn’t worry about avoiding overlaps but rather paint quickly and confidently. That’s why masking is important!
Now for the paint. Buy good quality paint. Get advice if needed. Good companies include Herbol, Sto, Sikkens/Akzo Nobel, for example. Choose alkyd or polyurethane (PU) paint. They contain solvents but provide a better flow than water-based acrylics. The surface will be smoother for beginners. Buy paint rollers specifically designed for solvent-based paints. Be sure to ask for these! They have fine pores and create an even surface; with good paint, the orange peel effect will disappear. Pour some paint into a clean, small container like an empty potato salad tub or similar. Roll the frame once—don’t apply too thickly to avoid runs and drips. Let it dry. The next day, apply a second coat. That should be enough. The key to the entire process is patience.
Oh, and if there is a rubber seal, remove it before painting. Also, take the door leaf off. Have fun. It’s an almost artistic, meditative activity.
Maybe this is interesting for someone considering a door re-covering:
I had contact with a provider like this in the meantime. I found their "advertising" quite pushy after the initial contact, and at the same time somewhat vague in terms of content. However, after multiple inquiries and requests to provide more specific information, they at least mentioned that such a covering costs around 350 euros (about $380 USD). Since this was only an initial price indication, which I had to push for, the final price would certainly be higher overall. I think if you have very high-quality doors that you definitely want to preserve, this might be an option. But if you can paint a frame yourself quite well, and a decent door leaf, which is also new, can be obtained for around 100–150 euros (about $110–$165 USD), then such a covering is simply very, very expensive.
I had contact with a provider like this in the meantime. I found their "advertising" quite pushy after the initial contact, and at the same time somewhat vague in terms of content. However, after multiple inquiries and requests to provide more specific information, they at least mentioned that such a covering costs around 350 euros (about $380 USD). Since this was only an initial price indication, which I had to push for, the final price would certainly be higher overall. I think if you have very high-quality doors that you definitely want to preserve, this might be an option. But if you can paint a frame yourself quite well, and a decent door leaf, which is also new, can be obtained for around 100–150 euros (about $110–$165 USD), then such a covering is simply very, very expensive.
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