Painting interior doors is an easy do-it-yourself project — if you have the right paint, tools, and some sawhorses. But it helps to protect the door while you paint, and all you need are pool noodles from the dollar store.


The Simple Way to Paint a Door

You can paint an interior door — and get a smooth finish — without using professional tools such as a sprayer.

In fact, you just need some 3-inch screws, sawhorses, semi-gloss interior paint, a 6-inch high-density foam roller, a paint brush, and painter’s tape.

However, some do-it-yourselfers may be hesitant to place their door on sawhorses, due to potential damage of the workpieces.

You can paint a door on its hinges, but doors with lots of imperfections need special treatment.

Fortunately, there’s a Simple Solution for that! (Now’s a good time to grab some pool noodles.)

WatchTips for Painting Interior Doorsfor a step-by-step demonstration.


Protect Wood Projects with Pool Noodles

Looking for an easy, temporary way to create a soft surface on your sawhorse?

This tip comes from Tom, a New York fan of the Today’s Homeowner Radio Show. He heard my tip about covering sawhorses with carpet strips to protect workpieces and offered this improved idea:

First, cut a pool noodle about an inch longer than the horizontal rail on the sawhorse. 
Next, slit the noodle with a utility knife.

Finally, wrap the pool noodle around the sawhorse rail.

The soft pool noodle will prevent anything you place on your sawhorse from getting scratched. Plus, the pool noodle slips on easily, grips tightly and slides off easily, unlike stapling the carpet. 

After you’re done, you can remove the pool noodle and you’re back with the wooden sawhorse!


Further Reading

Editorial Contributors
avatar for Joe Truini

Joe Truini

Radio Show Co-Host

Joe Truini is a contractor, author, and the host of “Simple Solutions” on Today’s Homeowner TV and the weekly Today’s Homeowner radio show. He has worked on both large commercial projects and residential remodeling, and has written for national publications such as This Old House and Popular Mechanics. He has also written eight books, including three best-selling shed-building books. Joe lives in Connecticut with his family and enjoys hiking, traveling, and baseball in his spare time.

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