Almost every inch of your home needs some maintenance, including your front door. Painted doors tend to chip over time and may need refinishing; but sometimes you may be ready for a brand new look. In either case, set aside time—perhaps a weekend—to choose colors, buy supplies, and complete tasks.
Also, pay attention to the time of year and weather forecast. Sunny, sunny days with reasonable temperatures – good for paint drying – are ideal.
Adhering paint chips to your existing door is one way to choose a color. If you’ve narrowed your selection down to two or three options, you may also want to purchase a small number of paint swatches so you can compare larger color swatches next to each other. Be sure to check out the swatches at different times of the day to see how the colors change as the light gets brighter and darker.
For a single exterior door that has been primed, you will need about a quart of paint. If you don’t have glass doors or storm doors between your door and the elements, you’ll want to make sure to use exterior paint. While you can choose any finish, gloss paints are often preferred for doors and trim because they stand out and accentuate these architectural features.
They also tend to withstand scratches and scratches better than flat or eggshell paints, which means they can last longer. The most important thing to note is whether you are using latex or oil-based paint. This is especially important for retouching, as you never want to put oil on latex paint and vice versa. The type of primer you use also needs to match the type of paint you use (latex or oil-based).
If you have a storm or glass door to protect your home and keep bugs and debris from floating into your home, you can paint the door in place or remove it from the hinges. If you want to remove the door for painting, you can also stick a tarp over the opening. As mentioned above, if you are going to change the color, you will also need to prime the door before painting. Whether you’re painting the door or the sawhorse, you’ll need to remove all hardware.
Second, you’ll need to clean the door with a damp rag, then use a sander or sandpaper to remove any imperfections. Be sure to wipe off sanding dust before painting.
First apply the primer. Cover the door completely. You can use rollers in this application. After the primer has dried, use a paintbrush to inspect any trim or details on the door. Next, it was finally time to paint. For this you can use a low lint or foam roller or paintbrush.
Brushes will give you a nice “hand-painted” look. Even if you use a roller, you can use a brush for the final coat to achieve this look. If you removed the door for painting, allow the door to dry completely before reinstalling the hardware and rehanging the door.