If it’s an older door, then you will need to sand it down going with the grain for a smooth finish. 3. Welcome to our old boring front door! Paint the door with an exterior-grade paint-and-primer-in-one. A heavy coat of paint covers better and sometimes levels out better, but runs are more likely and brush marks are deeper. A well-painted front door looks fantastic, offers strong surface protection and value, and it can be completed at a fraction of the cost of staining. Don't forget to clean and sand before painting. Repainting your front door is a quick and easy project that revives your home in much the same way a new allover coat would, but for a fraction of the time and cost. But I don’t have a wood door to clean — just a wide expanse of sliding glass doors from my apartment to my terrace (which is huge). Step 2 . Painting a front door is one of the easiest, quickest, and most affordable ways to majorly update your home, and all you need is a weekend to get it done.But before you slap on a fresh gallon of your new favorite shade, double check your game plan.So much of a successful front door makeover is in the prep work (and the waiting game…). To make the job as easy as possible, firstly, we are going to remove each handle and also (in most cases) the lock barrel or tubular latch. How to Paint a Wood Door. Even though many paints come as paint-and-primer-in-one these days, it’s a good idea to use a dedicated primer for something as high-use and exposed as a front door. If you leave the bottom edge unpainted, cover it with a clear wood sealer to prevent moisture from entering the wood. DON’T panic if your first coat is scary and looks awful! Start with a medium 120-grit piece of sandpaper and then work your way up to 220-grit paper. Not bad for a few hours work. Add some colour to your outdoor wood while protecting it from harsh weather at the same time. Remove the Front Door From Its Hinges . Give a light sanding to the entire door to give the paint a rough surface to grip. Start in the recessed areas with a brush then follow up with a roller on the flat areas. Painting For best results, a door needs to be painted in a certain order. Make a statement with a bright colour or opt for a classic white, cream or grey. The origina… How to Restore a Front Door Restoration Realities visits a 1925 Colonial-Revival house that's in need of a front-door upgrade. For wooden doors with flaking, cracked or peeling paint, use 120 grit sandpaper to sand away the paint down to the bare wood. Though our front door is now protected by the storm door, we chose an exterior paint. We recommend using an electric sander to make a quick job of it but you could use a flat scraper. Woodie's will show you how to paint an exterior wooden door. However, one important aspect of treating a metal front door is filling and smoothing dents and scratches. I became determined to figure out how to paint a door to look like wood so that I could get the wood look without all of the hassle. Apply the paint with a synthetic brush in the direction of the grain. It is not a complicated task. To give the old metal decorative inserts new life and stand out, I used rub n buff in ebony. How to Paint a Front Door Made of Metal. Learn how to paint your front door the easy way. I have always been impressed with houses that has well finished wood throughout. Note that it is perfectly OK to use your roller across the entire horizontal sections. Also includes how to strip a metal door if it has a lot of peeling and chipping. Painting a door with a brush or roller is the primary topic. Paint the front door. If your door is painted, used wood filler and fill the crack. Jan 18, 2017 - How to paint a plain white door to look like wood. Once it’s hardened, sand it down and repaint it. This helps the paint stick to the surface. It's always a good idea to prime before you paint, even if the door already has a coat of finish. Several other questions and topics arise when determining painting a door like, best door finish, a door is primed, painting front door, gloss paint without marks, paint interior doors, how to paint paneled doors, also how to gloss paint a door … The Final Result. Fill any old holes with wood putty. If the door has not already been painted or primed, apply a coat of primer. You need to prepare the surface before you paint it. It's always a good idea to prime before you paint, even if the door already has a coat of finish. If you want the best adhesion, you can splurge for Zinsser BIN, a shellac-based primer. One of the things I really wanted was lots of wood. Make sure you cover it thoroughly so your paint sticks consistently. The easiest way to paint a door is to remove it from the doorframe. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for dry time. Some exterior doors have non-removable hinge pins, identified by their flat pan-heads on both top and bottom. Brush on a light coat. Purchase either oil-based primer for wooden doors or metal-safe primer for steel door frames. You can use a special oil-based varnish or other types of coatings. If the door still feels rough to the touch, finish with a fine-grade 320-grit paper. A fresh coat of paint on an old wood door quickly updates your home indoors or out. It it does start snowing here, I’m packing up and heading to south Georgia. If your front door is bare wood, you’ll still be able to see the grain after two coats so will need a third one for solid colour. This is a little tutorial on how I painted the front door with chalk paint! But a beautiful wood door with a clear finish will attract many more admiring glances, as long as you maintain it with devotion. For me, a simple paint job has completely transformed the look of our front porch. Paint If you have a brand new bare wood door, you will need to treat it with a wood primer before painting. So once you’ve prepped the wood, you can start painting straight away. Once the dust has settled, wipe the surface down with white spirit. This site uses cookies to improve your experience. Wait for it to completely dry before painting. What can I do besides replacing the door? Paint the first coat, focussing on any raised door panels first, and then paint the rest of the door. Roll on the paint where you can. The origina… The last coat will be weatherproof in only one hour. This is normal and it will look far better with your second coat. 5. From time to time wooden doors get worn and tatty. This helps to keep it healthy and makes the paint stick better. Don't forget to clean and sand before painting. You may have to apply two coats to get full coverage. DON’T panic if your first coat is scary and looks awful! Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for dry time. Fill a clean paint tray with your paint. Repainting your front door is one of the quickest ways to bring some serious curb appeal to your house, but you have to do it the right way and you If you spot any holes of cracks, fill them in and cover knots with knot blocker to stop them showing through your new paint. Using a high-density mini foam paint roller, start by painting the middle section with the grain of the wood (not against it) up and down in a vertical fashion, and then paint the horizontal sections of the door from left to right. I invite you to our home…okay maybe the outside of our home! The Final Result. Sand down the door to remove any sheen or loose paint and use a soft cloth to remove any remaining dust. Preparing the Project Area Set a dropcloth on the ground near the door and tape the door frame and hardware with painter's tape to protect it from primer and paint. Copyright© 2021 Sherwin-Williams Diversified Brands Ltd, This site uses cookies to improve your experience. This helps to keep it healthy and makes the paint stick better. So when painting, try to keep brush strokes in one direction to help replicate a more authentic wood look. For front doors our Oil Based Gloss Paint is ideal, it is formulated to be weather resistant and hard-wearing for up to 5 years before re-painting. Apply the paint with a synthetic brush in the direction of the grain. This is an easy way to brighten up the entrance to your home. Nearly any front door that is made of wood, fiberglass, or steel can be painted. If it was painted with oil-based paint, prime before using a latex-based paint. How to Paint a Front Door That Gets a Lot of Sun. For me, a simple paint job has completely transformed the look of our front porch. (There's definitely no need to bring in a professional painter for this job.) There’s no need for primer so it’s easy to apply and will keep your wood looking good for 10 years. Start in the recessed areas with a brush then follow up with a roller on the flat areas. However, one important aspect of treating a metal front door is filling and smoothing dents and scratches. Repainting your front door is one of the quickest ways to bring some serious curb appeal to your house, but you have to do it the right way and you How to Paint a Stained Door. Give a light sanding to the entire door to give the paint a rough surface to grip. To begin, remove all fittings from the door such as door knobs and locks. Leave it to dry for four hours and apply to second coat. If it’s an older door, then you will need to sand it down going with the grain for a smooth finish. In this DIY tutorial post, you’ll learn how easy it is to paint a door with chalk paint! Plus: These are 15 of the most stunning front doors to inspire your painting project. Many exterior front doors are sold unpainted and otherwise unfinished, with the expectation that the owner will paint it. There’s no point replacing a door when a lick of paint can make it look brand new again. The easiest way to paint a door is to remove it from the doorframe. Take the color selection part seriously, as front door paint can earn you more money in a future home sale. I used a paintbrush because of all the detail in our door. Instead of swapping out a steel door for a wooden one, work with what you have: Give the door a faux wood-grain finish with paint. Dec 24, 2020 - Painted Front Doors . Take off all of the hardware on the door with a screwdriver such as hinges, door lock and handle. Front doors require a certain amount of maintenance, such as regular cleaning, weatherproofing and the occasional (well-deserved) spruce up. Remove any metal fixtures and fittings including the numbers, door handle and post box. Clean and prep the door. If the door has not already been painted or primed, apply a coat of primer. Painting your front door will give you loads of instant curb appeal. You can paint the door in place, but it's better if you take it down and paint it on sawhorses. If you want to paint the wooden front door, choose a material that is not afraid of atmospheric influences and changes in precipitation. How to Paint a 6 Panel Door Perfectly . Perhaps surprisingly, there isn’t much difference between how you need to treat and paint wood and metal doors. 5. I am Anika! Front doors with peeling, cracking paint can usually be successfully refurbished and re-painted. Even if the old finish is starting to crack and peel, this’ll work! Let's talk front door paint. DIY Rustic X-leg Console Table with Plans, DIY Console Table – Ballard Designs Inspired, 26 Simple Scrap Wood Projects for Beginners, How to Use Gel Stain – Update Cabinets Without Sanding, $10 DIY Tiered Planter Box Plans and Video Tutorial. The sun, wind, rain and snow can dish out a beating to a front door, so a good paint job is essential to protecting the door from the elements.