Paint the hinge side of the door with exterior paint as well as the door. A painted exterior door that contrasts with the house’s color creates a welcoming appearance for your home’s entryway. As you select the color for the door, choose a high-quality exterior latex or oil paint. You are going to paint the outer portion of the door itself, as well as the edges that are visible from the outside when the door is open. Most door warranties require that the top and bottom edges of the door have a coat of paint as well to avoid voiding the warranty. Remove the door from its hinges. Put the pointed tip of a center punch under the door hinge. Tap the punch with a hammer to force the door pin up through the hinge. Grasp the door pin with a pair of pliers and pull it on out. Repeat with the other hinges. Lay the door on a flat work surface or a pair of sawhorses. Remove the door handle and locks from the door or mask them with painter’s tape. Apply painter’s tape to any other areas of the door that you are not painting, such as window openings.

Wipe the entire exterior portion of the door with mineral spirits, dipping in a clean rag to remove debris from the door. Allow the mineral spirits to dry to the point where you can no longer smell them. Roughen the surface of the base coat of paint with 220-grit sandpaper. Use a light touch as you sand; you do not want to remove the base coat. Mix a few drops of dish detergent in a gallon bucket of warm water. Wipe the entire surface of the door with the soapy mixture. Rinse it with clean water. Allow the door to dry. Apply a coat of primer to the door with a short-nap roller. Use a paintbrush to cut in around trim features and along the edges of the door. Allow the primer to dry. The temperature and humidity affect drying time. Follow guidelines on the can of primer. Give the metal door a coat of paint in the color you selected. If the door has a simulated wood grain, paint with the grain. Use the short-nap roller to apply the paint. If there are ridges, smooth them out with a paintbrush.

Paint the recessed panels first. Next, paint the vertical centerpiece, which is the mullion. Follow that by painting the horizontal pieces, or the rails. Finish with the outside edges. Allow the exterior paint time to dry, following the paint manufacturer’s guidelines. Paint a second coat on the door in the same order as the previous step. decorate your home with antiquesAllow it to dry as well. home decor framed artRemove the painter’s tape. christmas decorations for outside the homeHang the door back on its hinges. wholesale wedding supplies uk

Things You Will Need Center punch Hammer Pliers Painter’s tape Pair of sawhorses Mineral spirits Rags 220-grit sandpaper Dish detergent Short-napped paint roller Paintbrush Primer Paint Tip Warning References Painting and Decorating Concourse: Painting an Exterior Steel Entry DoorMasonite: How to Paint Steel & Fiberglass Entry Systems Photo Credits Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images Suggest a Correctionchristmas tree ideas for 2013 pinterestI have painted quite a lot in my life—from rooms, to furniture, and everything in between. apartment living room decor ideas pinterestI 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.