brown door on a blue house

How to paint exterior house doors

house Victoria Sanchez Jun 7, 2021

Painting an exterior door- everything you need to know

Exterior front doors are often the first thing that guests notice in a home. Painting your exterior door is a simple and effective way to add character to your home. After all, have you ever given directions to your home and said it's the house with the red door? This really narrows it out for your company and makes it so much easier and fun to describe!

Choosing Your Color

I would say this is the hardest step in my case. You want to choose a unique color, however not too unique, to where the paint doesn't go with the rest of your home. I prefer softer colors however as mentioned before red can also make a beautiful front door! Some of my favorite color schemes are homes with a tan body color and a soft pink door. Another beautiful home we have seen is a brick body with a white front door. And our last example was a home with a dark grey body with an orange front door, this was on the more bold side I would say however it looked beautiful! I would also recommend using good old google for pictures of front door schemes. Also we have seen customers request the screen door be painted the same color and it comes out astounding!

Tips to keep in mind:

  • If possible by a tester sample and paint some on a board and place it where the door is so you can get an idea of how it will truly look
  • Look at the sample at various times of the day, as well as on a cloudy day, a sunny day so you'll know how it will change under different lighting conditions.

Picking up supplies

Keep in mind when picking out your supplies, you never want to take the cheaper route. Another thing to remember is this paint will be for an exterior door meaning this paint will have to endure all types of weather! Especially for our Idaho climate! Honey do wants to remind you to use exterior paint, the interior will not hold up as well.

Other supplies you will need are:

  • Duration exterior paint
  • Primer
  • 2-Inch painters tape
  • Sponge
  • Fine grit sandpaper
  • 9-Inch paint roller
  • Angled brush
  • Caulking
  • Paint tray with liners

Alright, now let's get to your steps!

  • Step 1 - Remove door

    Remove the door and place it on a flat, well ventilated surface. It is best to set it on two stools or a bench if you can. That way you can reach all sides, top and bottom areas easiest. If you are unable to remove the door disregard this step and move to the next

  • Step 2 - Clean the door

    Clean the surface with a wet sponge, wiping off any extra excess or sticky hand prints if you have children like me. Then lightly sand the surface with the fine grit sandpaper. Ensure the door is completely dry before taping.

  • Step 4 - Tape off door

    This step is if you are unable to take your door off the hinges. If you are painting your front door most likely you will be unable to leave it off the hinges to complete your project.In this case you will have to tape off any hardware you were unable to remove. This step is also necessary if you have any windows on your front door

  • Step 3- Pour paint in the paint tray

    In a paint tray, pour enough paint to cover the bottom of the pan. Using a 9 inch roller, paint all six sides of the door. You will want to paint the edges first, using an angled brush to help keep you paint a smooth finish. Now using the 9 inch roller fill in the center area moving from top to bottom, then finish the frame. If the door swings outwards, paint the hinged edge. If the door swings inwards, paint the lockside edge. If you are making a huge color change,using primer first is recommended.

  • Step 4- Paint the door (yay!)

    Here is the fun step, finally! For best results you'll want to paint the door with two to three coats. For darker colors, more coats may be needed. Avoid using too much paint, this will help keep your paint from puddling and trust me nothing ruins your beautiful paint job like puddled pant!. Let the door dry for a few hours or overnight if possible.

  • Step 5- Carefully remove painters tape then reattach your hardware

    Carefully remove the painters tape and reattach hardware. Hang your new door celebrate your hard work!! Also give us a facebook or instagram tag if you found this blog useful ,we love hearing back from you all! Thank you!