I have painted quite a lot in my life—from rooms, to furniture, and everything in between. I have had great success with everything except for one item: the front door to my house. It is a metal exterior door that gets full afternoon sun. The metal heats up like an oven and over time bakes the paint right off the door. When my husband and I first bought the house, the door was painted green. After a few years the paint finish started to looked cracked. When people would come to the door, they often asked how we achieved the look—the “Crackled Lacquered” style was a trendy finish at the time. I had to tell them it was not intentional, just a “paint fail.” I was told by pros that using a lighter color paint may help. I tested out lighter colors, but I wanted a classic color to go with the brick facade and tan siding on the house. After lots of trial and error using many combinations of primers and paint over the years, I have come up with a successful formula. I tested it out on my exterior metal side door last summer, which gets the same amount of sun.

It has not cracked. So this spring, I set out to do the same on the front door. How to Paint a Metal Exterior Door Glidden Gripper Primer (White or Grey, depending on your chosen paint color) Glidden Premium Exterior Paint in a Semi-Gloss Finish Foam paint roller & roller cover Paint stripper (if you are painting over a metal door that is cracking or peeling) Drop cloths (I cut up boxes instead of using an actual drop cloth) Notes if you’re painting your door in place on its hinges: If your door has old paint on it, it needs to be stripped off with paint stripper. You can use a heat gun, but I chose to use chemical stripper. I followed the directions on the labels of the cans I already had from previous projects. It is a messy job, but one that needs to be done if you want the new paint to successfully adhere to the metal.Sand and Wash Clean Once all the paint is off, sand any areas with sandpaper where the paint won’t budge, and then wash the door with TSP cleaner and rinse well.

Roll on one light coat of Glidden Gripper primer on the flat surfaces of the door. Use an angled brush to paint the recessed panel areas. Let dry and then add a second very light layer of primer. Tip: If you’re using a dark color to paint your door, use the grey Glidden Gripper primer formula or have the paint store add grey to the white Glidden Gripper formula. This will lessen the number of coats of paint needed for full coverage. When the primer is white, it takes a lot of dark paint to cover it evenly. Roll on one light coat of your exterior paint on the flat areas of the door. Use the angled brush for the recessed or beveled panel areas. Here is what one light coat of paint looks like over the grey Glidden Gripper primer. Once the first coat is dry, add a second light coat and let dry. Touch up if needed. With the addition of shiny new hardware, my front door has never looked better. I have been sponsored by the Glidden® brand paint for PPG to write this post but the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Painted brick has a style all its own and is seen more and more as decorating trends shift. If you are planning on painting brick, make sure to patch any cracks or ruts that are often caused by ivy breaking through when the bricks are outside.christmas office door decorations pictures Begin with your pressure washer. metal wall decor outdoorIt’s the simplest way to clean exterior brick.home and decor museum Set the washer to somewhere between 1500 and 2000 pounds per square inch. home decor stickers wallDon’t go higher than that pressure range when you wash the bricks, as too much force might damage the mortar. christmas decorations ideas outside

Add soap to the stream for more difficult efflorescence and mildew deposits. The primary point of the wash is to clear any dirt, grime, and loose paint—nothing else. Once the washing is completed, allow the brick plenty of time to fully dry. diy wedding decor suppliesThis will take a few days at least because brick is a porous material that traps moisture. WARNING: The pressure washer can be dangerous. Follow all the product instructions and always aim the stream of pressurized water away from yourself and others. Remove all loose paint that is left behind on the brick face or else it will cause early chipping when you eventually apply your coat. Use a hand scraper to get the larger pieces. Do not use a wire brush. It is easy to get carried away and gouge the brick or leave ruts in it using a wire brush. Sand the brick smooth using either a palm or circular sander with a minimum 80 grit paper.

Then, repair any missing and damaged mortar. You can use a premixed acrylic mortar patch that enables you to prime and paint as soon as it is dry. Alternatively, you can mix a powder mortar yourself, but this will take a few weeks to dry before you are able to begin priming. Always use a high quality acrylic or latex masonry primer for painting exterior brick. Remember all mortar as well as brick should be primed. Prime those places where efflorescence and mildew occurred first so that you can give an extra coat if needed. It typically takes 1-2 hours for the coat to dry. Give time for the primer to dry completely before moving on to painting. Caulk any area that can let water in, even an opening as small as a 1/16 inch. This includes doors, windows, trim, and chimney caps. Be sure to use 100-percent acrylic caulk and a foam backer rod for bigger cracks. You may need to repeat this process after 3-5 hours. Before beginning, remove all the dust that’s come to rest on the brick face with a brush or vacuum.