A new front door paint color can add curb appeal to your home and also reflect your personality. Modern Masters Front Door Paint offers excellent fade resistance and lets you paint and close your door in just one day. Preparation is key to a successful front door painting project. Follow these steps to repaint exterior doors that were previously coated with paint or primer.

Prep: Wash off dirt, grease and other contaminants with detergent, rinse and allow to dry. Remove any loose paint and repair imperfections. Scuff glossy surfaces with a foam sanding pad. Remove all dust with a damp cloth and allow to dry.

Open the door and use a chair or something sturdy to secure it from behind and prevent it from moving while you paint. Lay a drop cloth under the door. Use painter’s tape to cover anything that you think you will have trouble painting around cleanly, and remove weather stripping from jamb, if possible. Stir the paint thoroughly before beginning.

Prime: If the previously painted door is sound and your chosen color is darker than the original color, then no primer is needed. If you need to cover surface stains or used a filler on imperfections, apply Zinsser® Bulls Eye 1-2-3® paint primer and let dry before covering with front door paint. Paint primer is always recommended for new, unpainted doors.

Paint: Paint the door edge first. If the door already has painted hinges, paint them again. If they are metal, you can leave them as is. Paint around any windows or hardware.

If your door has a flat surface, with no panels, Modern Masters Front Door Paint can be brushed, rolled or sprayed on. If brushing, use a high quality, synthetic brush made for water-based paint. If rolling, apply the paint with a good quality ¼” nap roller. Divide the door into two segments, using the doorknob as the horizontal dividing line. Apply the paint from the top down to the doorknob, then paint from the doorknob down to the bottom.

If your door has raised panels, paint the reveals first and then the panels. Next, paint the cross pieces. Paint the rails, starting with the top one and working down. Paint horizontally, left to right. The bottom may include weather stripping, so try to edge it carefully. To achieve a clean edge if you didn’t tape, lightly load the brush with paint and lay it crosswise at the edge, patting the edge lightly. This will give a natural edge to the door. Then paint a vertical stroke to smooth out the paint surface. Lastly, paint the stiles (verticals). Paint the side stiles, moving the brush from top to bottom in one stroke.

Wait an hour and then repeat the process. Three coats may be necessary if you are applying a light color over a dark color. After you apply the last coat, leave your door open for at least 2-3 hours to dry. Remove painter’s tape, then step back and admire your newly painted front door.