Your exterior door is going to fade over time, and can begin to look unsightly, even after a good cleaning. If your exterior door is in need of a new paint job, or even if you just want to give it a new splash of color, there are steps you need to take in order to get the job done. Read on for helpful tips to get your exterior door painted properly.
What You'll Need:
- Exterior paint (type depends on your door material)
- Primer
- Paintbrushes (angled and straight edge)
- Roller
- Painter's tape
- Screwdriver
Instructions:
- To start, you're going to need to figure out what type of paint you'll need to get the job done. You can use oil-based paint, which cleans up nicely, and can hold up well with time. A paint that helps prevent rust is also a good option to use if you have a metal door, especially one that doesn't have a glass door or screen door to help prevent rain and other weather from getting onto the exterior door.
- Once you have your paint picked out, you can begin. You're going to want to deep-clean your exterior door first to help prep your door. Also, be sure to remove the hardware on your door. Your door is most likely going to have a lot of dirt and handprints on it. This should all be cleaned, as they can soak through your paint. Wipe down the door to remove any leftover cleanser.
- After your door is clean, paint it with primer. Primer will help prevent any stains from soaking through. If you have scratches in your paint, the primer can help cover this area. Or you can use a sanding block to sand out imperfections on the door, then prime the door.
- Allow the primer to dry thoroughly, then you can begin painting the door. Primer may need at least 24 hours to dry completely.
- Finally, paint the door using your paintbrushes and roller. Paint the insets on the door first with a paintbrush, then use the rollers to paint along the flat areas of the door. Keep an eye out for drips in the insets and blend them in before they dry. Let your first coat dry, then paint a second coat for complete coverage.
If your exterior door is in need of an update, give it a new coat of paint. If you aren't keen on painting the door yourself, hire a professional painter to do this job (or any other painting job) for you.
