Home renovations are exciting, but they can also be overwhelming. While choosing internal doors might seem easy, there's a full array of options to choose from, not just for the look but also if you want an unfinished, primed, or fully finished door.

This guide from our experts will cut through the confusion, revealing the pros, cons, and essential considerations to help you select the perfect doors for your home's style and your personal needs.

Contents

What is an unfinished door?

Unfinished doors haven’t been treated with paint, varnish, or stain. They are designed for homeowners who want full control over the final appearance, making them ideal for those who want a specific colour or finish that isn’t necessarily available on the market or is an exact match to their walls or furniture.

What do you need to do to an unfinished door?

To finish your door, give it a light sand with some sandpaper.

Next, remove the sawdust with a cloth or vacuum and lay your door flat on a work surface to start applying your paint. It’s best to apply a primer for a durable finish, but for doors that don’t need the extra protection or won’t see regular use, you can go straight in with your paint.

Depending on the colour, you’ll need multiple layers of paint and a top coat to finish. Once done, it’s ready to hang.

For more detailed information, learn more about treating your new internal doors.

Pros of unfinished doors

• You get full control over the final colour and finish
• Makes it easy to match doors to your existing home decor
• They can be more cost-effective upfront

Cons of unfinished doors

• Requires more time and effort to finish
• More prone to wear and tear if it's not sealed properly
• Additional costs for materials like paint or stain on top of door price

What is a fully finished door?

Fully finished doors come ready to install with a factory-applied coat of paint, varnish, or stain. This means you don’t need to worry about finishing the door yourself. Just attach the hardware, and it’s ready to hang. Pre-finished doors are usually easier to deal with as they require less time commitment.

Pros of fully finished doors

• They are ready to install without any extra work
• Durable factory-quality finish
• Saves time and effort

Cons of fully finished doors

• More limited colour options compared to DIY finishes
• More expensive upfront
• Touch-ups may be harder to match

What is a primed door?

A primed door sits in between unfinished and fully finished options. These doors come pre-coated with a base primer, making it easier for homeowners to paint them in their desired colour without sanding.

Remember that primer is only necessary if you’re painting your door. Transparent wood treatments such as wax or varnish don’t need it.

Do you have to paint a primed door?
Yes. Although a primed door may look complete, it still needs a coat of paint to protect it. The primer will offer a smooth, even surface and cover the porous surface of the wood. Paint is still necessary to protect the wood against wear and tear, temperature changes, water splashes and other everyday damage.

Pros of primed doors

• Easier to paint than unfinished doors
• Saves time on preparation
• Offers flexibility in colour choice

Cons of primed doors

• Still requires painting
• May need multiple coats for full coverage
• Not as durable as fully finished doors

How to choose the right door for your home

Here are some key factors to consider when deciding which type of door to buy:

Cost

Cost is something we all try to keep in mind when renovating our homes, and there are some cost differences between these three types of doors.

At first glance, fully-finished doors tend to have a higher price point, but they come ready to hang in your home and require little to no maintenance, keeping any additional costs minimal.

Unfinished doors keep material costs low, but you’ll need to pay extra for sanding, priming and painting materials.

Durability

Pre-finished doors tend to be more durable than unfinished doors. Fully finished doors will really stand the test of time, even in busy households, thanks to their factory-quality finish.

When you finish a door at home, you’ll typically apply between two and three coats of your finish of choice. Compare this to a modern factory process that involves applying more than seven different coats, which are baked with aluminium oxide, and you have a much more rugged finish.

That said, you can extend an unfinished door’s lifespan with a little maintenance. Use fine sandpaper and re-finish the door every few years to get the most out of it.

Colour matching

If you want to match your doors to the colours of the other furniture you have in your home or even your walls, then you’ll have an easier time applying the colour yourself. In this case, a primed or unfinished door might work best for you. Additionally, if you’re searching for something very specific, you might find it easier to achieve with an unfinished door.

That said, the variety of colour options available for pre-finished doors is increasing, so homeowners can access more options than ever before.

Time & effort

If you want a quick and easy solution, choose a fully finished door, as these come ready to hang. If you want customisation without too much prep work, primed doors are a good compromise, as these are primed and ready to paint. If you enjoy DIY projects and want complete control over the finished colour, unfinished doors are the way to go.

Summary: Unfinished vs. Primed vs. Fully Finished Doors

	Unfinished Doors	Primed Doors	Finished Doors
Ready to install	Requires finishing	Required painting	Fully finished
Customisable	Unlimited colour options	Can be painted any colour	Limited to market options
Effort	High effort - sanding, priming and painting required.	Medium effort – just needs painting.	Low effort - ready to install and go.
Durability	Lower unless sealed properly	Moderate – depends on the final paint	High – factory-grade coating
Cost	Lower upfront but needs finishing materials	Mid-range	Higher upfront but no extra work

Find new internal doors for your home at Leader Online

No matter which type of door you choose, each option has its benefits. If you want convenience and durability, fully finished doors are a great choice. If you want flexibility and a more budget-friendly option, unfinished or primed doors may be better.

To find the perfect doors for your home, no matter what your needs are, check out our range of doors, including fully finished internal doors in a range of different colours, primed internal doors ready to be painted any colour you like, and unfinished internal doors for you to customise to your exact specifications.

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