Make an Entrance: Top Tips for Painting Your Front Door
Learn what you need to know about this weekend project, such as the best paint to use and the right time to do it
Maybe you want to give your home’s exterior a colour makeover. Or you’re ready to paint the front door that bold colour you’ve been eyeing. Perhaps it’s time to refresh paint that has faded over time. Regardless of your reason for doing it, painting the front door is an easy and effective way to update and enhance your home’s exterior. It’s a home improvement project that can take a day to finish, won’t cost too much and can be done on your own or with the help of a professional.
Painting the front door is a seasonal project, depending on where you live, as you can’t paint in winter if it’s too cold outside. (Paint cans will state their minimum temperature requirements). You also don’t want it to be too hot, as the paint will be at risk of drying too fast and will be more likely to leave roller or brush marks. “We always try to paint doors when they are in the shade and are cool,” says painting contractor Michael Murray.
Read on for more tips on how to paint the front door.
Painting the front door is a seasonal project, depending on where you live, as you can’t paint in winter if it’s too cold outside. (Paint cans will state their minimum temperature requirements). You also don’t want it to be too hot, as the paint will be at risk of drying too fast and will be more likely to leave roller or brush marks. “We always try to paint doors when they are in the shade and are cool,” says painting contractor Michael Murray.
Read on for more tips on how to paint the front door.
What colour to use
A new front-door paint colour can complement your home’s existing colour scheme, or it can add a colourful accent piece. “We have seen an increase of clients who are choosing to be more adventurous and want to choose a bold colour,” says Ray Orist, owner of R & J Painting.
“When picking a colour for the front door, it is important to stand back and take in all of the colours on and around the house,” says Murray. The roof, cladding, trim, brick and plants all play a role in determining a good colour for your front door. If you’re still having a hard time choosing a colour, you may consider hiring an interior designer or decorator to help with the decision.
A new front-door paint colour can complement your home’s existing colour scheme, or it can add a colourful accent piece. “We have seen an increase of clients who are choosing to be more adventurous and want to choose a bold colour,” says Ray Orist, owner of R & J Painting.
“When picking a colour for the front door, it is important to stand back and take in all of the colours on and around the house,” says Murray. The roof, cladding, trim, brick and plants all play a role in determining a good colour for your front door. If you’re still having a hard time choosing a colour, you may consider hiring an interior designer or decorator to help with the decision.
Tools and materials
You don’t have to remove the front door to paint it, although removing the door and the hardware can more easily ensure even paint coverage. If it’s easier for you to leave the door up to paint it, you can still get great results. If you do choose to paint the door without removing it, do so on a day when you can leave the door open for several hours or more.
- Drop cloths and plastic sheeting
- Cloth (to remove sanding dust)
- Painter’s tape
- Sponge (to clean door)
- Low-suds detergent or mild dish soap
- Putty knife
- Sandpaper (around 200 grit works well)
- Thin-nap roller (15 centimetres wide), good for a thin, smooth finish
- Paint (most projects will require about a litre)
- Primer (You want a primer that can be rolled on. Check with the paint store on the right type to buy, depending on the paint you choose.)
- Screwdrivers (if you’re going to remove the door or hardware to paint)
You don’t have to remove the front door to paint it, although removing the door and the hardware can more easily ensure even paint coverage. If it’s easier for you to leave the door up to paint it, you can still get great results. If you do choose to paint the door without removing it, do so on a day when you can leave the door open for several hours or more.
How to paint a front door
- Protect the surrounding area: Cover the area surrounding the door with drop cloths and plastic sheeting to protect from paint spills or drips. “If keeping the front door in place, paint on a dry day without too much sunlight shining onto the door,” says Orist. “If removing the front door, make sure you have a temporary replacement to protect your home.”
- Prep the door: Remove door hardware, if possible. Otherwise, tape around door hardware and glass with painter’s tape. Use a sponge and a mixture of water and a low-suds detergent or mild dish soap to clean the door. Rinse and dry thoroughly. Use a putty knife to gently scrape off existing paint and then sand off remaining paint or finish. Wipe with a cloth to remove sanding dust.
- Prime the door: Apply primer to the entire door with a roller. Instead of brushing one thick coat, opt for multiple thin coats. “They dry quicker and will absorb [the paint] better,” says Moon.
- Paint the door, one section at a time: Once the primer has dried, it’s time to apply paint. Start with any panelled sections, using an angled brush to paint the edges of the panels first. You can then switch to a roller for the flat portions of the panels, using a brush to smooth any stippling or dripping from the roller before it dries. Paint all the panelled sections, using a combination of roller and paint brush. Paint the rest of the door, using a roller to get the paint on quickly and smooth it out with the brush (making sure to get one coat on before the paint dries).
- Allow for complete drying: Most likely you’ll need to apply at least two coats to the front door. Read the paint can for drying time estimates before painting a second coat. If you’ve left the door on the hinges, aim to keep the door open for several hours or more. This will prevent the door from sticking to the frame or hinges. “This dry time is essential in between coats and at the end of the project as well,” says Orist.
- Reattach hardware or the door: Once the door is completely dry, reattach hardware that was removed and remove painter’s tape. If you removed the door, reattach it to the hinges.
Working with a professional
Painting the front door is a project that most homeowners could do themselves in a weekend. However, working with a professional is always an option, especially if this is part of a larger home painting project. Though some professionals paint with a brush, others may remove the door and paint it with a spray gun, for a flawless finish.
Painting the front door is a project that most homeowners could do themselves in a weekend. However, working with a professional is always an option, especially if this is part of a larger home painting project. Though some professionals paint with a brush, others may remove the door and paint it with a spray gun, for a flawless finish.
Tips for painting a front door
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- Paint when it’s not too hot, not too cold and not too sunny.
- Use a high-quality brush and roller.
- Take time to properly prep the door and surrounding area.
- Start in the middle of the door and work out, using both a brush and a roller for an even finish.
- Apply multiple thin coats, rather than fewer thick coats, of paint and primer to avoid brush marks.
- Paint with the grain using long, light brush strokes. This will also help prevent brush marks.
- Be sure to coat the entire door before the paint dries in order to have an even layer.
- Allow plenty of drying time.
- Don’t be too hard on yourself if the result isn’t perfect. “Sanding cures all,” says Moon.
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What are your tips for how to paint a front door? Share your thoughts and pictures in the Comments.
More
Find a painter near you
First, make sure you choose an exterior paint. Then, determine if you want to use a water-based or oil-based paint. Oil-based enamel paint has been the traditional paint of choice for doors, as it’s resilient and long-lasting. But drying time is long, the smell isn’t great, cleanup is a challenge and it’s hard to avoid brush marks if you’re not an experienced painter.
For homeowners who like the look and performance of oil-based paint but the ease of water-based paints, “there are some excellent water-based hybrids that behave like oil,” says Lisa Moon, chief executive of Paper Moon Painting. Most major retailers and brands carry this type of paint.
You’ll also need to choose a paint sheen, dependent on surrounding finishes and your desired look for the door. A glossy finish of some kind, whether that be satin, semi-gloss or high-gloss, helps the front door better stand up to dirt and moisture, while also creating an accent piece on the home’s exterior. Moon advises homeowners with less painting experience to stay away from high-gloss paint. “It shows every imperfection” of the paint job and the door itself, she says.
What about metal or fibreglass doors?
“The material may affect what paint to buy or if a primer is necessary,” says Murray, who owns Textbook Painting. “The more smooth the door is, the more important it is to take your time to avoid brush marks. Steel doors tend to heat up really quickly in the sun, making it imperative to paint them in the shade,” he adds. Be sure to mention the door’s material to your paint store when purchasing the paint for this project.