Sliding doors can add a unique and aesthetic touch to your home. Whether they’re starting to show their age or you’re simply changing the look of your home, you might have considered painting your sliding doors. If you’re painting them on your own, you need to make sure you’re fully prepared to do so.
One of the most important things to consider is what types of painting tools are available to you, and which ones will work best for your needs. This article will help you discover the best brushes for sliding doors by covering the following:
- 10 best paintbrushes for sliding doors
- What’s the best type of brush for sliding doors
- Best way to paint sliding doors: brush, roller, or spray
- Best way to paint sliding doors without marks
Before we get into the best ways to paint sliding doors, let’s dive into the top brushes for sliding doors. If you’re also painting the trim around your doors, check out the best brushes to paint door trim.
10 best paintbrushes for sliding doors
With many options available, choosing the right brush for sliding doors can be difficult. To cut your search short, here are our recommendations for the best paintbrushes, sprays, and rollers for sliding doors.
1. Wooster Softip Angle Sash Paintbrush
Image credit: Amazon.ca
Type: Brush
Quantity: 1
Size: 2-inch
Material: Nylon-Polyester
Best Feature: Smooth finish
The Wooster Softip Angle Sash Paintbrush is a great choice for working on sliding doors of any design. The angled bristles allow you to smoothly apply paint with great coverage. It works well with both oil and latex paints.
2. Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch 2X Ultra Cover Paint + Primer
Image credit: Amazon.ca
Type: Spray
Quantity: 1
Size: 340 g
Best Feature: Even coverage
If you're looking to speed up the process, try a Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch 2X Ultra Cover Paint + Primer spray. This spray is fast-drying and allows you to easily achieve a smooth, even coverage. It's available in several different colours, including black, white, and lagoon.
3. FoamPRO Fine Finisher Roller
Image credit: Amazon.ca
Type: Roller
Quantity: 1
Size: 4-inch length
Material: High-density foam
Best Feature: Versatility
For those wanting a quality roller for their sliding doors, the FoamPRO Fine Finisher Roller is for you. This roller's cover is made of high-density foam, helping you to beautifully apply your paint. It works with a variety of paints and helps you achieve a smooth, lint-free finish.
4. Wooster Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush
Image credit: Amazon.ca
Type: Brush
Quantity: 1
Size: 2-inch
Material: Nylon-Polyester
Best Feature: Flexible handle
For a brush that prioritizes comfort, check out the Wooster Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush. This brush is perfect for helping you achieve a smooth, beautiful finish. It's designed with a short, flexible handle, allowing you to work in tight spaces and paint for longer.
5. Krylon ColorMaster Paint Plus Primer
Image credit: Amazon.ca
Type: Spray
Quantity: 1
Size: 467 g
Best Feature: Quick drying
For a spray that works on just about anything, opt for a Krylon ColorMaster Paint Plus Primer spray. This spray offers great coverage and dries in 10 minutes or less. There's also a wide colour selection, including various blacks, greys, greens, yellows, and blues.
6. Bestt Liebco Master Foam 4 Piece Mini Roller Kit
Image credit: Amazon.ca
Type: Roller
Quantity: 2
Size: 4-inch length
Material: Foam
Best Feature: Value
If you want a roller that comes with everything you need and more, opt for the Bestt Liebco Master Foam 4 Piece Mini Roller Kit. This kit has everything required to paint your sliding doors. It also comes with 2 foam roller covers, helping you tackle all your projects and achieving the finish you desire.
7. Wooster Silver Tip Angle Sash Paintbrush
Image credit: Amazon.ca
Type: Brush
Quantity: 1
Size: 2-inch
Material: CT polyester
Best Feature: Softness
Another great brush for sliding doors is the Wooster Silver Tip Angle Sash Paintbrush. The bristles on this brush are super soft, helping you achieve a smooth, mark-free finish. It's also made with durable materials, allowing you to use this brush for many projects going forward.
8. Rust-Oleum Universal All Surface Spray Paint & Primer In One
Image credit: Amazon.ca
Type: Spray
Quantity: 1
Size: 440 g
Best Feature: Versatility
If you're looking for a spray that can be used with anything, the Rust-Oleum Universal All Surface Spray Paint & Primer In One will give you favourable results. This spray paint is designed to work with all surface levels, including wood and metal. It's also available in a wide variety of finishes and colours.
9. Wooster Tiz Foam Roller Cover
Image credit: Amazon.ca
Type: Roller
Quantity: 2
Size: ⅛-inch nap, 3-inch length
Material: Yellow foam
Best Feature: Quality
This 2-pack of Wooster Tiz Foam Roller Covers is a great option for those looking for roller covers to help them paint their sliding doors in no time. The yellow foam is super absorbent and releases well, helping you achieve a smooth finish. These roller covers are most ideal for oil-based paints.
10. Rust-Oleum Chalked Ultra Matte Spray Paint
Image credit: Amazon.ca
Type: Spray
Quantity: 1
Size: 460 g
Best Feature: Easy to use
For those wanting to give their doors a smooth, vintage look, try a Rust-Oleum Chalked Ultra Matte Spray Paint. This spray works well on interior sliding doors to give them full coverage in less time. Colours available include black and grey.
What’s the best type of brush for sliding doors
When shopping for painting tools, it’s important to know what to look for to get the best results. These are the qualities you should look for in brushes, rollers, and sprays:
- Brushes - Use an angled brush between 1 and 3 inches with synthetic bristles. This will help you maintain the most control and achieve the best finish.
- Rollers - Use a foam mini roller (4-inch length) with closed ends. This will help you achieve the best coverage on the main surface of the doors.
- Sprays - The spray you choose depends on the location and design of your door, as well as your desired outcome. Make sure your spray is intended for interior or exterior use (depending on the door), is intended for the type of material your door is made of, and will give you the finish you desire.
Best way to paint sliding doors: brush, roller, or spray
Whether to use a brush, roller, or spray to paint your sliding doors depends entirely on your personal preferences and your specific project. Chances are you’ll want to have a paintbrush on hand at least for cutting-in and painting the edges, if not the whole project. Brushes are great at helping you maintain control and get at the tricky areas other tools might miss. They are the best option for blending into the rest of your paint and achieving perfect coverage.
A mini roller can be helpful if you have a fair bit of surface to paint and you want to speed up the process. For solid sliding doors, it will be best to pair a roller with a brush to make sure both your cutting in and main surface painting look great. If you really want to speed up the process, use a spray paint. They’re a great option for covering everything quickly and still getting great results, but be warned that you might make a mess.
Choose a brush if…
- You’re cutting-in and/or painting the edges of your doors.
- You want to maintain control while painting.
- You want to be sure you cover everything.
Choose a roller if…
- You want a balance of quality and speed.
- You’re working with solid doors.
- You want to maintain some control while painting.
Choose a spray if…
- You want to speed up the process.
- You want to make painting easier.
- You don’t mind making a mess.
Best way to paint sliding doors without marks
With any paint project, it’s important to know what to do to get the best results. These are some tips for painting sliding doors without marks:
- Remove the doors off their hinges - If possible, remove your doors and find a space to lay them flat. This will make it easier for you to paint the entire surface.
- Check the weather - If you’ll be working on exterior sliding doors, make sure you have enough time to complete the project without rain or humidity.
- Sand the doors - Use sandpaper to remove the old layer of paint from the door. This will help the new paint remain even and smooth.
- Clean the doors - Use a damp cloth to wipe away any dirt and debris that could appear or get caught in your paint.
- Protect the surrounding area - Use painter’s tape and sheets to cover anything you don’t want to get paint on. This will allow you to put all your focus on painting.
- Apply a primer - Choose a primer and cover the entire surface with it before your paint. This will help smooth out your paint and give it a beautiful finish.
- Use only what you need - Dip your brushes’ bristles only ⅓ of the way into the paint and remove excess paint from your rollers with a tray. This will prevent any unwanted blotches or uneven coverage.
- Use the proper techniques - Hold your brushes at an angle, roll paint up and down using the M technique, and stand comfortably close to your project. These are all tricks to achieving the best results with your paint.
Now that you know everything about paint sliding doors, it’s time to get started. If you think you’d prefer to hire a professional instead, the City Painters is here to help. Contact us here or give us a call for a quote.