The higher the quality of paint, the less often you will have to repaint the door. Painting your front door is a great way to renovate or update your home's style. How do I know if a door I want to repaint was painted with an oil or water based paint? wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Priming the surfaces on the exterior of your house is a crucial step in painting them because it seals the surface and ensures the final coat of paint will adhere well. What kind of paint do you use on a front door? For tips on choosing the best primer and paint for your exterior door, keep reading! The below steps demonstrate the right way to give your door an update, courtesy of the Room for Tuesday blog. A couple of quick passes is all it takes. A thorough cleaning will help lift away any lingering dirt or stains that might show through or prevent the new coat of paint from taking hold. Clean the door using a diluted all-purpose general cleaner to remove any grime and dirt. Step Four: Making Sure the Exterior Door is Clean Allow the paint to dry before removing the painters tape. Before priming your door be sure to wipe off any excess dust or rust and rub down the surface with a tack cloth. Soak a piece of cloth, or a cotton ball, with rubbing alcohol and wipe it across the painted surface. When painting a door on the hinges, don’t close the door until the primer or paint had had time to dry fully (see the manufacturer’s instructions for exact times). But, after that, I just sanded the doors down slightly, ensuring they were clean and free of debris prior to painting again. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. You can use a drop cloth, too, if you have one handy. The surface needs to feel smooth and be free of rust. *Pro tip - For the best results, paint when the temperature is between 50° F and 90° F and humidity is between 65% and 70%. Allow the door 24 hours to dry. Usually, this happens right in the corners underneath a window for any crevice that the door might have because of a decorative design. But priming the whole door is best. This was very helpful.". Patrick Coye is the owner and operator of Patrick’s Painting & Home Improvement in Alexandria, Virginia. Follow this order for best results when using SnapDry™ paint on your doors. The easiest way to do this is to remove the door off its hinges before painting door jambs and the door frame. Finally, let the paint dry completely before you replace the hardware and rehang the door. If you have a door that offers a totally smooth surface, that is one without panels, then you can use a small roller to paint the door. The 60° F guideline is ideal. Step Nine: Drying An easy way to tell if the old paint on your door is latex or oil is to put a small amount of one of these onto a cotton ball or cloth - alcohol, hand sanitizer, acetone or nail polish and then rub it over a small area of the door. You need to prepare the surface before you paint it. I'm trying to achieve a super glossy finish. Our exterior paint isn't just for doors and windows. Support wikiHow by This will act as a gasket and … Before you actually begin painting your door, make sure that you clean the surface thoroughly with soap and water. If your door opens in, you’ll need to paint the hinged side of the door the same color. Paint Roll on one light coat of your exterior paint on the flat areas of the door. If this is the case, first ensure that the door is totally free of dust and dirt. The door, which will usually be some shade of grey, has been primed in the factory according to specifications that will allow it to readily accept paint. This article has been viewed 259,874 times. Once dry, refit the door furniture. For this job use a palm sander with 50-grit sandpaper. Before painting the door, make sure that it is clean enough. If you're painting a metal door, sand before cleaning it. If it’s too cold when you paint, the paint won’t dry. Whether you have a new exterior door to paint or are going to repaint an existing door, the techniques are basically the same. To paint a door that’s still on the hinges, clean and prepare it one day, prime it the next morning, and allow the primer to dry so you can close the door at night. Patrick Coye is the owner and operator of Patrick’s Painting & Home Improvement in Alexandria, Virginia. Don’t overload the brush or roller with paint and don’t allow it to puddle on the door. Apply exterior grade paint with 4" brush beginning with the panels. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Absolutely gorgeous color and I bet you smile every time you see it. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for dry time. Paint … What do I do if my door is sticking to the weather strip? Step 1. If painting a wood door, always go with the grain. Wash the top edge as well, as dust tends to accumulate atop a door if it is left open. Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow. Leave the door slightly open as you paint to make sure you paint all the edges. For the best finish, allow a minimum of two hours … There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. @2018 - Professor's House. It’s best to remove the door from the hinges and remove all hardware first, but you can do a simplified method that involves taping up the hardware and painting the door in place. Painting Your Fiberglass Entry Door. This article will describe how to paint an exterior door, both new and old, in 10 steps. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This article was co-authored by Patrick Coye. Wind and sun can cause the paint to dry too quickly, and humidity can prevent it from drying properly. Dip in a sponge and wipe down the entire door, starting at the top. Fill the cracks with caulk, using a putty knife to ensure the crack is filled properly and the surface flush with the door. Choosing a new color for your home’s front door can be overwhelming whether you’re going for a fresh coat of neutral or taking the plunge with a high-contrast hue. Add at least two coats of paint to the door, using three … Apply a thin coat of primer, ensuring that you roll the edge of the door. Do I have to take the door off of its hinges to paint it? How to Paint a Steel Door: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow Top quality exterior acrylic house paint is more resistant to the effects of sunlight. What color should I paint the sides of the door? Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. If it’s an old door, you may want to give it a light sanding before you start. Step 3: Prime Door If you left the door on its hinges, tape adjacent walls, the frame, and the hinges. In the process of painting all those doors, I’ve developed this easy method for how to paint a door without brush marks or streaks! Step Ten: Additional Coats Apply two coats of Dulux® Aquanamel® in your chosen colour. All Right Reserved. This is an easy way to brighten up the entrance to your home. How to paint an exterior door. I decided to paint the front door without taking it off the hinges or even removing the hardware because that is the fastest and easiest way. You can avoid flaking or bubbling paint and it will protect the surface of your door for a long time. You’ll be painting your door again within a year and totally perturbed. So it’s easy to create a doorway with distinction — one that complements your home and expresses your personal style. Fill a small bucket with soapy water and use a sponge to scrub the frame from top to bottom. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Preparation time will depend on how much you have to do. If applying a second coat, follow the manufacturer's instructions for drying time between coats. Approved. Tape a few swatches (ours came from a midcentury paint palette) to your door. Even if you use a roller, you can use a brush for the final coat to achieve this look. After the door is dry, wipe down with a clean cloth and with a tack cloth to remove any dirt or dust that may have accumulated. This typically is 50° F for latex paints. When you’ve filled all the holes, set the door aside to let the filler dry. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d1\/Paint-an-Exterior-Door-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Paint-an-Exterior-Door-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d1\/Paint-an-Exterior-Door-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1353250-v4-728px-Paint-an-Exterior-Door-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"