Pre-finished vs. Primed vs. Unfinished Doors

If you’re shopping for a wooden door, you’ll need to choose between a door that’s been pre-finished, primed, or arrives unfinished. But what’s the difference between those three options?

Prefinished doors arrive completely ready to hang. They’re the easiest low-effort option, but are the least customisable. Your primed door may arrive looking pretty finished, but it will still need to be painted. The primer will provide a smooth surface, covering the porous surface of the wood. However, the paint is required to provide extra necessary coverage against wear & tear, temperature changes, water splashes, and more. Unfinished doors arrive with no paint layers. They’re typically chosen when you’d like to have a woodgrain finish. They’ll need to be stained and finished.

You can learn more about all the different kinds of door, including styles, compositions and finishes, here.

The type you choose depends on what you plan on doing with your door.

Pre-Finished

Unbox and Hang

Prefinished doors come already painted, covered in multiple coats of paint or wood stain. All you need to do is fit the doors – a process which takes a matter of minutes, if you know what you’re doing.

Primed

Factory Primed, DIY Finish

Primed doors arrive with a base coat of primer. Once delivered, you apply the colour of paint you’d like and a finishing coat.

Unfinished

Custom Woodgrain Finish

These doors are delivered with no priming or paint, just the wood. These are most popular for staining to keep the natural woodgrain texture on the door.
You can alternatively paint your own primer, custom paint, and finishing coat on an unfinished door.

 Take a look at our range of pre-finished black doors here

Prefinished

It’s the easiest, low effeort option and may have a longer lasting finish in the end.

A pre-finished door is a great option for the homeowner who wants;

• To hang multiple doors with the same colour
• To save time and energy
• A professional, long-lasting finish

The hard part is already done. Simply unbox, hang, and enjoy!

Primed

Choose a custom paint colour and finish

Primed doors leave the last few steps of painting to you. They’re delivered primed and ready to paint so that you can choose your custom colour. This is a great option for:

• Getting right to the DIY customisation without the first step
• Choosing a custom finish (matte, glossy, or neutral)|
• Homeowners who have a free weekend and the space to paint

Can a black door be primed? Many black doors on the market are sold primed. Finishing the door at home prevents scuffs and scratches during delivery.

The Best Colours to Pair with a Black Door

Unfinished

You can stain the wood for a natural woodgrain finish or completely customise the colour and finish

Unfinished doors will arrive sanded smooth, without primer or a final coat. This option will allow you to;

• Choose a custom finish
• Enhance the natural woodgrain texture
• Enjoy a DIY project

These doors require a little extra work, but for those who are ready to sink their teeth into a new DIY project, an unfinished door can be an exciting blank canvas.

What to Consider When Deciding Between Finished, Primed, and Unfinished?

Finished Vs. Primed Vs. Unfinished: Which is Best?

While it might seem like a cop out, there’s no set answer to the question of which is best – it’ll depend on your circumstances and personal preferences.

You Might Choose Pre-finished If

• You want to cut down the labour, time, and overall cost
• You want fast installation
• You want a high quality, durable finish
• You have a large project that involves multiple doors being installed

You Might Choose Primed If

• You want a custom finish but don’t want the hassle of sanding and priming.
• Don’t want a natural stained finish on your door
• Have the time, space, and budget to spend on finishing the door
• Have a good amount of DIY experience

You Might Choose Unfinished If

• Lower upfront cost, and are willing to pay extra for paint, and other materials
• Want a custom colour of finish
• Would like to match existing woodward
• Have the time and money to invest
• Have extensive DIY experience

Customers with little DIY experience tend to underestimate the work involved in painting a door at home (or the cost of getting someone else to do it), as well as the upheaval such an undertaking will cause. This is especially so if you’re painting several doors at once. In this case, you can’t beat the convenience of a prefinished door. On the other hand, if you have your heart set on a particular colour or style that door-makers simply haven’t yet made available, an unfinished door might be the only way to proceed!

More From Aspire

If you’re ready to take the plunge, why not check out some of our most popular products?

• Wooden Internal Doors
• Mexicano Doors
• Internal French Folding Doors

Or take a look at some of our informative articles here!

• Storing Internal Doors
• How to Adjust Internal Doors

Aspire Doors offer a wide variety of quality doors. We provide all finishes of internal door, including fully prefinished doors and unfinished doors. For expert advice or if you have any questions about our products, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team.