Being stuck in one’s home for quite some time can induce some creative minds to go to work. If you have been wanting to redecorate or change the style or character of your house, then painting your front door may be a good place to start. It requires little skill but can still boost creativity. In addition to that, you can paint your front door on your own with ease because you can paint it while hung! Check out this series of tasks to help you paint your front door.
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Task #1: Clean your door
Before any painting job, it is important to clean the surface you will be painting on. That way, you won’t get patches or streaks of dirt all over your new paint. Use an old sponge dipped in warm soapy water to help remove dirt and grime stuck to your door. This is especially important for front doors which are constantly exposed to the outside weather. Dry your door before doing the next task.
Task #2: Refine your door
This basically means polishing your door before painting it. However, before doing this, remove fixtures attached to the door, such as doorknobs, handles, etc. This can help you get a better overview of the actual door. Sand down imperfections and uneven spots in the door. Use wood filler on cracks and dents and dry it down. After the filler is dry, sand it down to even it out with the rest of the wood.
Task #3: Cover up some areas in your door
You would not want to paint every single thing on your door. You would not want to paint the glass areas, for example. Use painter’s tape to cover these parts up. You can also do these on metal fixtures if you choose not to remove them. Use old newspapers and place them underneath your door or other places where you think you may get paint on. Place a buffer underneath your door to keep it open and prevent it from swinging back and forth.
Task #4: Paint your door
You may choose to prime your door especially if it is bare or stained. After the primer dries, you can proceed to paint your door. Choose exterior paint for extra protection. Exterior paint also helps protect your door from damages due to UV rays and rain. It is better to paint in an outward direction. Use paint rollers for quicker strokes on flat parts, and paintbrushes for more detailed parts. Paint in thin coats, and wait until fully dry before applying the next one.
Now that you have the know-how to paint your front door with ease, you can start to take on this project for a big home improvement!
You might also be interested in: How To Restore Your Old Wood Door
Pieter Boyce
Wooden Window and Door Specialist
This article was written on behalf of Fortis & Hooke by Pieter Boyce. Pieter has an intense passion for English Architectural history and has been specialising in the conservation of original wooden windows and doors for decades. His exceptional knowledge of timber windows and doors, both listed or non-listed, is attributed to his hands-on approach to learning all aspects of the complete restoration of original features as well as having personally surveyed thousands of items throughout his long tenure as a head surveyor for one of the largest window and door restoration companies in the UK. He now runs a boutique wooden window and door consultancy and fervently champions the retention of original windows and doors. To learn more of Pieter’s services, visit his website at www.boultonboyce.co.uk.