Internal bifold doors are simple to paint yourself, so you can get the colour or finish to suit your home. You’ll usually find glass panels in your interior bifold doors. It’s important to consider how to paint your doors without marking the glass. We’ll talk you through how to paint internal bifold doors step by step so you can get the best finish possible.

You’ll need to start by considering the type of bifold door you have. Is the door brand new and unfinished, ready-primed or already finished? Here’s how to paint each different type. 

How to paint an unfinished bifold door?

An unfinished internal bifold door is supplied with no finish at all. The timber is exposed so your door needs finishing and painting as soon as possible. Wooden surfaces are porous so they will soak up the paint you apply. This means you’ll need to apply a primer before you start to paint.

Tools & Materials Needed:

• Lint-free cloth
• Masking tape
• Paintbrush
• Small Roller
• Primer

Step 1: Wipe the doors with a damp, lint free cloth to remove any dust or dirt.

Step 2: Place the door flat on one side, ideally resting on trestles or sawhorses. You’ll need to prop up each panel of the door, so larger bifold doors may be more difficult to manage!

Step 3:  Place masking tape around each glass panel to protect from any drips or spills. Cover any hinges with masking tape too.

Step 4: Choose a primer to apply to all wooden parts of the door. Use white primer if you plan to paint the door white, and grey primer if you plan to paint a colour. 

Step 5: Where possible, apply the primer using a small foam roller. This will create the smoothest finish. Use a brush to apply primer to any hard to reach spots. Take your time applying the primer, as you’ll get a better finish when you come to paint. Try to cover all the wood to make sure it is well sealed.

Step 6: Leave to dry thoroughly, then flip the door and repeat the process on the other side.

Now you’ve primed the door, it’s time to paint. Read on as we cover the steps for painting a primed internal bifold door.  

How to paint a primed bifold door?

Perhaps you’ve just finished priming your interior bifold doors. Maybe you’ve bought ready-primed doors. Either way, you’re now ready to paint them!

Tools & Materials Needed (additional to the above): 

• Paint

Step 1: Position your door ready for painting (as above) if it’s not already set up from priming it yourself. If working on a ready-primed door, remember to add masking tape to the glass panels and hinges as explained above.

Step 2: Wipe the door with a damp, lint free cloth to remove any dust or dirt.

Step 3: Choose a paint suitable for indoor use. Latex-based paints tend to give a lovely smooth finish.

Step 4: Starting from the middle and working outwards, apply the paint. Use a 1 to 2 inch brush and keep strokes small and even. Continue until you have covered all the upward-facing parts of the door. Leave the paint to dry overnight.

Step 5: Once the paint is dry, turn the door and paint the other side in the same way. Make sure you have painted the edges too. 

Step 6: If another coat is required, repeat this process again.

How to repaint a finished bifold door?

If you’re looking to spruce up an existing internal bifold door, it’s probably already painted. You can still repaint the door to freshen it up or change your decor. 

Tools & Materials Needed (additional to the above): 

• Sandpaper

Step 1: Start by removing your bifold door from its frame. Take off any hardware like handles and hinges if possible.

Step 2: Place your doors on a flat surface.

Step 3: Using a fine-grit sandpaper, sand both sides of the door. This will create a surface that the new coat of paint will adhere to.

Step 4: Wipe away the dust with a damp, lint free cloth. This is important to ensure a smooth finish. 

Step 5: Position your doors ready for painting by resting on trestles or sawhorses. Mask off the edges of any glass panels with masking tape. 

Step 6: Paint the door as described above, under ‘how to paint a primed bifold door’.

Painting your internal bifold doors is a task that’s achievable and satisfying. To get a great finish, take your time over each step and take care to be precise and accurate. Don’t overload your brush and keep painting strokes light. Leave plenty of drying time and choose a dry, dust free environment for painting. Enjoy the results of your newly painted doors!