Colored doors add visual interest.
Paint your doors if you're redecorating, or if you just want to breathe new life into a living area. Like other home painting projects, painting doors involves some cleaning and sanding preparation, but the work you put into it is worth it in the end.
Cleaning and Sanding
Give the door a good dusting with a damp cloth. Whether the doors are old or new, previously painted or stained, they will have to be sanded down before you apply the primer. Sand any bumps or old paint drips with a fine-grit sandpaper. Fill dents and chips with spackle.
Stains and Soiling
If you have difficult stains and soiling, scrub with a solution of TSP (trisodium phosphate), and allow it to dry. If these areas have surface imperfections, sand them or fill them with spackle. When the spackle is completely dry, sand the whole door thoroughly with a palm sander or by hand with 180- or 220-grit sandpaper.
Remove the Doors
If working on the door while it's hanging on hinges is bothersome, take the door off the hinges and place it on two sawhorses, or against a wall. Tape off the hinges and windows (if it has windows) with masking tape, and apply a coat of primer. Allow the primer to fully dry, and apply the first coat of paint. Apply a second coat after the first coat dries.
Painting Exterior Metal Doors
Use a wire brush to remove rust or flaking metal. Scrub the door thoroughly and allow it to dry. Re-scrub stubborn spots with a solution of TSP and water, and allow it to dry. When using TSP, follow all manufacturer's warnings, as this is a highly toxic chemical cleaner. Mask off any weather stripping, locking mechanisms and glass.
Prime and Paint
Paint on a coat of thinned exterior oil primer (eight parts primer to one part thinner). When this dries, apply a coat of exterior acrylic house paint, and allow it to dry. Follow this with a second coat.
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