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How to Paint your Front Door

September 03, 2020

Looking for a low-effort, high-impact home improvement project? Consider this your primer for how to paint your front door.

What you’ll need

The front door paint of your choice – choose Exterior Eggshell for a mid-sheen finish or Full Gloss for an ultra-reflective finish
Exterior Wood or Metal Primer
Sandpaper or sanding block
Masking tape
Paint brush

Not ready to paint yet?

How to Paint Your Front Door

PREP

Remove all hardware, then sand the door, making sure it’s clean and dry. If your door has glass, use masking tape around the edge of each pane to keep from painting the glass.

We recommend starting this project early in the morning, or even the night before, so you can give the paint all afternoon to dry.

PRIME

Apply a layer of primer, one section at a time. Then leave to dry.

We recommend following the sequence below when painting your door:

Panels
Central beam (also known as the muntin)
Top rail
Middle rail
Bottom rail
Side beams of the door (also known as the stiles)

PAINT

Apply two layers of your chosen door paint in the same order, leaving to dry between coats. Remember, Farrow & Ball paint should be stirred, not shaken.