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Whether classic in color (white, black, or red) or punchier in hue (citrus, lime, or turquoise), a front door can greatly enhance a home’s curb appeal, especially with a fresh coat of paint.
How easy is it to paint your front door? Easier than you might think—although it does require some planning. If you’re painting the door a color similar to the existing shade and the paint’s intact, you can leave the door in place; just cover the hardware in painter’s tape and place a dropcloth. If you’re changing the color or the existing paint is peeling or flaking, you’ll need to take down the door, remove its hardware, and place it on a sawhorse. The key in either case is to work methodically.
- If the existing paint is in good condition and the same color as the paint you intend to apply, you won’t need to sand or prime. Skip to step 5.
- If the paint is in poor condition, carefully remove peeling paint with a putty knife and begin sanding (using 120- to 320-grit sandpaper, depending on the surface roughness) until the door is smooth.
- Remove sanding dust with a vacuum, a clean cloth, and mineral water. The door must be completely clean of debris.
- Brush on a coat of primer, covering the entire door, and allow it to dry.
- Begin painting by “cutting in” around the hardware (if it hasn’t been removed) with a brush. Brush the door’s sides and into crevices.
- Use a foam roller to paint the rest of the door, starting at the top and working your way down. Roll out any drips or runs.
- Apply two or three coats to achieve deep color saturation. Let each coat dry before proceeding to the next.
- Allow the paint to dry completely before reattaching hardware and rehanging and closing the door. A full 24 hours is ideal but not always possible, but the longer you wait, the better your results will be.
- If you must close the door at the end of the day, apply painter’s tape to the weatherstripping to ensure that it doesn’t pull off your work.