The sanding process involves multiple stages, alternating between mechanical and hand sanding; requiring time and patience. If you are sanding an exterior door, leave enough time to complete the sanding or you will have an exterior opening open overnight.

Here is the step by step to accomplish your sanding task.

Insert the tip of a Phillips-head screwdriver into the bottom of the middle hinge. Tap the handle of the screwdriver with a hammer to remove the hinge pin, separating the middle hinge. Repeat the procedure to separate each door hinge. Make sure to have someone available to hold the door for you. The last thin you want is a heavy wooden door falling over and smacking you in the head.

Remove the door from the separated hinges. Lay the door flat across two sawhorses and remove the half-hinges from the door with a Phillips screwdriver. Make sure the sawhorses are sitting on a stable surface. You want to make sure you have room to move around all sides of the door so remember this when setting up your sawhorses.

Apply paint remover to the accessible face and sides of the door with a clean 4-inch paintbrush. Allow the paint remover to sit on the painted surface for five to six hours or the time specified on the can of paint remover. Make sure it is in a well ventilated area to prevent inhaling the fumes.

Scrape the surface of the door with a plastic paint scraper. This removes the majority of the paint buildup and eases the sanding process. I prefer a metal scraper, but whatever makes you most comfortable. You may have some resistant paint while doing this step.

Attach a piece of 120-grit sandpaper to the bottom of a palm sander. Sand the sides and flat surfaces of the door, changing the sandpaper when it becomes clogged with paint or dull. The key is to replacing the sandpaper often- don’t overwork yourself for nothing.

Once you have removed the remaining paint, sand the door and sides with 220-grit sandpaper attached to the palm sander. At this point you will decide just how much detail and darker wood you will want to show. Sand the paint from tight areas of the wood door with a sanding sponge.


You will repeat the same process for the other side of the door as well. Clean the sanding dust from the wood door with a clean rag once you have finished. Now you have the natural beauty of wood and all you will have left to decide is whether to stain the door or to just top coat it and leave it more natural. Whichever way you decide, be proud of yourself for a job well done!