If you’ve been looking for an easy way to update the look of your home’s exterior without spending a small fortune on renovations, painting your front door just might be the project you’ve been searching for! Your front door has more of an impact on the overall look of your house than you might think and painting it can be a relatively quick weekend job.
There are, however, some important steps you should follow to make sure the process goes off without a hitch. You’ll learn everything you need to pull off the perfect front door painting project as you read the remainder of this guide. By the time you reach the end, you’ll be itching to start transforming the look of your door!
Select the best paint for the job
When it comes to painting an exterior door, even one that has a storm door, selecting the right paint for the task is of critical importance. Low-quality paint or paint that isn’t designed for outdoor use won’t work well in the long run and your hard work will probably have to be redone relatively quickly. When you start shopping, you’ll see both oil-based and water-based paints.
As a general rule, oil-based paints have a more enameled finish and, therefore, last longer without chipping. However, they have a noticeable odor, take a long time to dry, and are messy to clean-up. If you want the durability of oil without the downsides, consider a water-based hybrid exterior paint. These tend to function more like oils.
Prep the area
Some homeowners choose to paint their front doors while they are still on their hinges, while others opt to remove them and rehang them when the new paint is dry. In either case, you will need to prepare the area in which you’re going to be working. First, put tarps or drop cloths underneath your workspace. This will prevent paint splatter from getting on your floors.
Next, set up the area where you plan to paint. If you’re leaving your front door on its hinges, this will probably involve propping the door open and laying out any necessary supplies within arm’s reach. If you are removing your door for your painting project, you will need to lay it across sawhorses or on another surface where it can stay until it fully dries.
Paint the door
The next step is to actually paint your front door. If the door is raw wood, it may not need to be primed, but other surfaces, such as steel and fiberglass, will require primer for the best result. Furthermore, wood that has previously been varnished should be sanded before you apply a layer of paint.
The easiest way to paint a door is to go section by section. Not only will this ensure that the paint is covering evenly, but it will prevent inadvertent streaks. Most people prefer to use a small roller to paint their doors, but you may need to use a brush for detail work, such as around any glass inserts.
If you follow these instructions, you should be well on your way to properly painting your front door! Remember, if you need assistance, North Carolina and South Carolina experts, like the team at Hatch Homes, can help you complete this remodeling job the right way.