How To Paint A Door

Painting a door can transform the look of your home inside or out. Whether you want to boost curb appeal by painting your front door or garage door, or update your interior doors, a fresh coat of door paint is a simple way to give your home an updated look.

Door paint is fairly easy to use, but it’s important to properly prepare your door before painting and choose the best door paint for your project.

What Supplies Are Needed to Paint a Door?

• Door paint
• Paint brush and/or roller
• Stir stick
• Painter’s tape
• Cleaning solution
• Cleaning cloth
• Primer
• Drop cloth

How to Paint Your Front Door

A new coat of front door paint can change your home’s appearance. Whether you want to add a pop of color or merely refresh your door with the same shade, a new coat of paint is a simple way to add curb appeal and a welcoming vibe.

Because front doors can be exposed to the elements, it’s a good idea to choose paint that’s made specifically for exterior doors. Paint like Rust-Oleum Door & Trim Paint and Modern Masters Front Door Paint are durable on exterior doors. Their water-based formulas also dry quickly, which means you can apply a second coat in just an hour and finish your door painting project in a single day.

Before painting your front door, you’ll want to take a few steps to make sure it’s properly prepared.

• Remove imperfections. If your door has any rust spots or loose paint, use sandpaper to smooth it away.
• Clean the door. Use a cleaner and degreaser like Krud Kutter to remove dirt and grime from your door.
• Consider priming. A coat of primer can prevent dark colors from bleeding through your new paint. It can also ensure your water-based door paint adheres if the door was previously coated with an oil-based paint.

If you’re not sure whether the door was previously painted with oil-based paint, there’s a simple way to find out. Dip a rag in rubbing alcohol and rub it on the door. If paint comes off onto the rag, that means it’s a latex paint and you can apply a water-based door paint directly over it. If no paint comes off in this test, that means it’s an oil-based paint. In that case, you’ll need to apply a bonding primer like Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 before repainting it with a water-based door paint.

Once your door is fully prepped, you’re ready to paint. The following tips can help guide you through the project.

1. Paint the door edge first. If your door will have a different color on the outside than the inside-facing side, consider painting each edge of the door a different color. If the hinged edge swings in, paint that edge the outside color. If the door swings out, paint the hinged edge the inside color.
2. Remove or paint around any numbers, windows or hardware. Painter’s tape can help keep these surfaces clean if you decide to paint around them.
3. If your door has raised panels, use a small brush to paint the indented reveals before painting the panels with either a brush or a roller.
4. After you’ve painted the entire door, wait an hour and then repeat the process.
5. Following the instructions on your paint’s label, leave your door open until the paint is dry.

How to Paint Interior Doors

A fresh coat of paint on your bedroom, bathroom and closet doors is an easy way to spruce up your living space. Interior doors and trim can generally be painted with regular water-based wall paint.

Semi-gloss and satin finishes are popular choices for interior doors because they deliver subtle shine and are easier to clean than a flat finish.

Some good paint choices for interior doors include:

• Rust-Oleum Color Spark, which can be tinted to the color of your choice.
• Rust-Oleum Sure Color, which comes in pre-mixed colors.

If you’re painting an unpainted wood door or want to give a dark-colored door a lighter shade, it’s important to take a few additional steps before you paint.

• Lightly scuff the door with a piece of sandpaper.
• Clean the door with soap and water or a cleaner/degreaser to remove any dust or grime. Let the door dry.
• Apply a coat of paint primer to prevent dark color or tannin from bleeding through the topcoat and to ensure paint adhesion.

Once your prep work is done, you’re ready to paint your door. If you bought a new door, you’ll want to paint it before you install it in your home. If you want to paint an existing door, you can choose to remove it from the hinges or leave it in place while you paint. If you decide to paint a door without removing it from the hinges, remove the doorknob and use painter’s tape to cover the hinges while you paint. When you’re done painting, allow the door to fully dry before closing it.

Consider these tips as you paint:

• Paint the door’s edges first.
• If your door has raised panels, use a small brush to paint the indented reveals before painting the panels with either a brush or a roller.
• After you’ve painted the entire door, allow the paint to dry and then repeat the process.
• Leave your door open until the paint is dry.
• Reattach the doorknob and/or hang the door after the paint is dry.

How to Paint a Garage Door

Garage doors may be large, but they can be fairly simple to paint. They can even be spray painted. Rust-Oleum Stops Rust With Turbo Spray Paint System lets you paint your garage door quickly because its spray fan delivers four times the coverage of a typical can of spray paint.

If you’d rather paint your garage door with a brush or roller, Rust-Oleum Stops Rust Protective Enamel is a durable option that comes in an array of colors.

Before applying any kind of garage door paint, take a few steps to prepare:

• Lightly sand the surface.
• Wash the door with soapy water, rinse and let dry.
• Use painter’s tape to cover surrounding areas, such as siding or light fixtures, that you want to protect from paint.
• Apply paint with the garage door fully closed.

A new coat of door paint is a simple way to make a big impact on your home’s appearance. By using the right paint and following the necessary steps for your door, in just a day you can give it a fresh look that will last for years to come.