First impressions matter. This also applies to the exterior finishing of your home. The front door is, more often than not, the first part of your house that visitors clap eyes on and it somewhat sets a preliminary expectation of what’s inside. A worn-out metal garage gate can drag down the appearance of your entire house, but a fresh coat of paint could help make it look crisp and clean—provided other parts of the exterior don’t need touch-ups. Painting the front door is something you can take up as your weekend task. The best part is that it does not require a professional to do the job.
In this blog, we will provide you with a complete list of supplies that you will need and a step-by-step guide on how to paint your front door flawlessly.
Painting Front Door For A Modern And Fresh Look
The first and foremost step is the selection of colour. Choosing the colour may be difficult especially if you are looking for a shade similar to the one originally painted. If you intend to sell your property in the near future, you probably want to go with a subtle and light-toned colour because not everyone has the taste for loud and bright shades.
After you have selected the right colour to paint your garage door, be sure to bring with you the list of other supplies you will need.
List Of Supplies
You will need more than just paint and a brush to successfully paint the door. Here is a list of supplies you will need which are readily available in paint shops.
- Safety goggles
- Face mask
- Rubber gloves
- Cloth rag
- Painter’s tape
- Good quality exterior primer
- Good quality exterior paint
- Wire brush
- Paint brush
- Fine sandpaper
When To Paint
Painting the exterior of your house isn’t the kind of job that can be done on any day of the year. In order for your paint job to produce desirable results, you need to check the weather forecast first. The ideal time would be a sunny day with moderate temperature which will allow the paint to dry. Each coat needs a few hours to dry so you also want to be careful if the temperature drops significantly—for example, a heat wave during summer or exceptionally cold winters—in your area.
Step-By-Step Guide On How To Paint Your From Door
Peeling, faded or cracked paint makes the front door lose its curb appeal. If you have decided not to hire a professional painter for the job and taken it as your personal pet project, reading this step-by-step process will be extremely beneficial for you.
The following steps are for painting your front door but same steps can also be followed to paint other doors of your house as well.
- Sand, remove rust and wash the door
- Cover the parts with painter’s tape
- Apply exterior paint primer
- Paint the surface and edges
Here are the details of each one of the above steps.
Sand, Remove Rust And Wash The Door
Prepping the door is important if you want quality and durable results. Wear the safety equipment i.e. mask, gloves and goggles before you start so that sanding and removing rust doesn’t harm you in any way.
Using a wire brush, remove all the rust and chipped off paint so that the new coat holds up well and lasts long. Once you are done with scrubbing, use sandpaper to remove any leftover paint and to create a smooth base.
Once you have removed the previous coat and scrubbed off the rust, the next step is to wash the door properly so that no particles are left behind. Dry the door using a rag and let moisture evaporate.
The whole process should ideally be done by unhinging the door so that it’s easier for you to wash and paint it. But if you don’t have a replacement, it’s fine to complete the process without removing the gate.
Cover The Parts With Painter’s Tape
To prevent the paint from spilling on things like locks, handles and windows on the door, use a heavy-duty painter’s tape. Don’t worry, it wont leave residue marks after you remove it. If there are any areas which you don’t want to paint or use a different shade for them, painter’s tape, aka masking tape, will give you the required precision and get the job done right the first time.
You can either use painter’s tape or a dry cloth to protect the floor of the garage in case of any accident or the excess paint drops while brushing.
Apply Exterior Paint Primer
A primer is a special type of paint that provides the foundation for painting anything. Primers ensure uniformity in texture and that the paint adheres to the surface whether you are painting the interior or exterior of your property.
Priming is important especially if you are changing the type of paint already painted. The type of primer you use will matter because of its features. For instance, you can use an oil-based primer which is a good stain killer or a latex-based primer which is fast drying. The selection of primers depends completely on the buyer but latex-based primers are mostly preferred because they dry faster.
Priming the gate is the same as painting it. You will use the same technique to cover all the area by moving the brush horizontally. Spread the primer evenly by making small “W” strokes and, once completed, let it dry properly so that it’s effective for the paint.
Paint The Surface And Edges
After the primer has dried, the final step is painting your front door. For primer as well as painting, you might need brushes of different sizes. The technique, however, will remain the same as the one for the primer. Check the edges and sides of panels inside the door to confirm if the paint and primer have reached the corners.
Once you have applied the coat, step back to assess the work you have done. Your work is not finished if there are variations in shades on different parts of the door. If the result is not satisfactory, let the initial coat dry and go for another coat. Remember, multiple thin coats are better than one thick coat.
Each coat will take a few hours to dry so you need to be patient rather than rushing into wrapping up the process. If the desired results have been achieved, you can now remove the painter’s tape. Your door will be just as new and without even the use of professional help.
Since you are reading about one of the things you can do yourself at home without requiring an expert’s help, here are a few more useful things you can read about and try on your own:
This brings us to the end of our piece. We hope that you succeed in painting your front door on your own using this guide. You can inform us about your experience at blog@zameen.com. You can also read about home décor ideas by heading over to Zameen Blog.
