Front doors finish off the overall look of your house. A well-designed front door can make a home seem homely without even checking inside. That is why it is important to work with styles that best compliment the whole appearance of your home. This way, guests would feel welcome once they visit you and check out your place. A simple task you can do on your own is to paint your front door. In this article, we have gathered some of the most reliable tips you can use to properly paint your front door.
Tip #1: Gather all your tools
It is important to begin your task prepared. You should prepare all the painting essentials, such as:
- Exterior Paint
- Paintbrush
- Primer
- Painter’s tape
- Painter’s bucket or tray
- Old Newspaper (to prevent creating a mess)
As for some cleaning essentials to help prep your door, here are some you could also use:
- All-purpose cleaner
- Old sponge
- Cloths for cleaning
- Sandpaper
Tip #2: Start earlier in the day
Picking a time to start this painting job is critical in making sure you have plenty of time to finish within the day. As you will have to keep your door open or, if necessary, bare, it is best to start in the morning. You will have to dry it out and apply several coats, too, so this would make sure that the heat of the day can help you in this process. It is best to work on a cooler day, and not too hot or too cold, for better temperature regulation within the house while working.
Tip #3: Clean your door before painting
Clumps of dirt and grime could get in the way of a beautiful finish on your door. It is better to clean your door, preferably using your old sponge and dipping it in warm soapy water, or using an all-purpose cleaner. Afterwards, wipe it down with a wet cloth, then a dry one. You can also choose to sand down parts that may need to be evened out.
You might also want to check out: Do-It-Yourself Tips for refinishing sun-damaged doors
Tip #4: Use your tools to help you
Painter’s tape is essential for doors that may have portions or sections that shouldn’t be painted, such as glass panels. Use a painter’s tape to cover these up and prevent smearing paint all over them.
Place your old newspapers on surfaces apart from your door where paint may accidentally be spilt. You can put them on your floor or other surfaces and furniture that the door may touch, or your brush may splash on.
Tip #5: Prime your door
Priming is important for all painting jobs as it helps paint stick to the surface. Some paints already come with primers mixed in, so that can be used as well. Make sure to use exterior paint for your front door to ensure that it has extra protection. Afterwards, you can start painting. Be sure to use a bucket or tray to prevent massive spilling. Paint in an outwards direction.
Those are some of the most important tips to properly paint your front door. When in doubt, you can always call experts to help you with redesigning your front door. They can also give you advice on how to tweak the design that works best for your home.
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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.