Painting a door in the jamb is faster than painting it on sawhorses. If you want the best paint job on an exterior wooden door that you've just hung, the first step should be to take it down again and lay it flat on sawhorses. Finishes tend to level more evenly on horizontal surfaces than they do on vertical ones. A paint job can still turn out very well on a door that is hanging in the jamb, however. You'll be able to paint both sides at the same time and there is no danger of sawhorses marring the paint. You just have to avoid spreading thick coats as that can cause the paint to drip. Open the door all the way and prop it open by wedging a block of wood between the bottom of the door and the floor. If the doorway doesn't have a storm door that you can lock, hang a sheet of plastic and tape it to the jamb to prevent people from using the doorway. Remove the door knob and deadbolt from the door, using a screwdriver. If there is a metal guard on the bottom of the door, unscrew and remove it.

Cover the hinges with masking or painter's tape. If the door has a window, cover the panes with masking paper and tape. Ensure to leave all the window framing exposed. Place a drop cloth on the floor and push it underneath the door. Sand the door with a palm sander and 120-grit sandpaper if it is made from new, unfinished wood. Alternatively, wash the door with detergent and water if it is painted. Sand it with 120-grit sandpaper to etch the surface and improve paint adhesion. best paint for cinder block wallsSpread on a coat of oil- or water-based wood primer, using a paintbrush. christmas tree store gift cardPaint one side of the door, starting at a top corner and working downward to the floor, then paint the other side. handmade christmas tree decorations pinterest

Finish by painting all four edges, lifting the door off the hinges to get the bottom edge, if necessary. Let the primer dry, then sand it by hand with 220-grit sandpaper to remove graininess and smooth the wood. Move the paper in any direction, not just with the woodgrain. Spread the first coat of paint with a paintbrush, using long even strokes. Start at the top of the door and move toward the bottom, applying paint to an unpainted part of the door and brushing it back into wet paint. best exterior front door paintEvery so often, go over a section you've painted with a long stroke to straighten the brush marks. living room ideas for black leather couchesPaint both sides of the door, then paint the side and top edges. best paint for a wood front door

Apply a moderate coat. Allow the paint to dry completely. Sand the first coat lightly with 220-grit sandpaper after it dries and before you spread a second coat. Sand again before applying a third coat, but don't sand the last coat. Let the door dry for at least 48 hours to give the paint time to cure before you reattach the hardware and close it. Things You Will Need Block of wood Sheet plastic Masking or painter's tape Screwdriver Masking paper Drop cloth Palm sander Sandpaper, 120- and 220-grit Detergent Wood primer Paintbrush Paint Tips Warnings References The Painted Surface: How To Paint a DoorFine Paints of Europe: How to Paint a Door Photo Credits Thomas Northcut/Digital Vision/Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionEdit ArticleHow to Paint an Exterior Door Three Parts:Cleaning and Sanding the DoorPainting and PrimingFinishing and Re-Hanging the DoorCommunity Q&A Exterior doors, especially front doors, are often the first thing someone will notice about your house. And if you want to add character to your home, then painting exterior doors is a simple and effective way to change the look of your house.

It’s best to remove the door from the hinges and remove all hardware first, but you can do a simplified method that involves taping up the hardware and painting the door in place.Before you can paint an exterior door, you need to clean it, sand it, and prime it, and this requires some tools. For this project, you’ll need primer and paint, as well as: Solvent, such as acetone or mineral spirits (for metal doors) Small foam roller and frame Small to medium brush Remove the door from the hinges. Insert a flathead screwdriver between the hinge and the hinge pin. Angle the screwdriver upward at a 45-degree angle, and tap the end of the screwdriver with a hammer. As you tap, the hinge pin will come out of the hinge. Pull the hinge pin out from the hinge. Repeat with the other hinge. Have somebody else holding the door as you remove it from the hinges. When you have the door off, lay it horizontally on a bench or across two sawhorses. You can leave the door on the hinges, but it will make the painting process more difficult.

Use a screwdriver to remove any hardware from the door that will come off. This includes handles, knockers, the hinges, mailboxes, and the latch and lock mechanism.[2] It will make painting much easier and faster if you don’t have to paint around these things. You'll most likely need a Phillips or flathead screwdriver to remove the hardware.If there are any holes in the door, such as nail marks, fill these in with small amounts of caulk. Go over the door and locate holes and cracks. When you find one, inject some caulk into the hole to fill it. Smooth down the caulk and press it into the hole or crack with a putty knife or scraper. When you’ve filled all the holes, set the door aside to let the caulk dry. Generally, caulk needs about two hours to dry before it can be exposed to water or painted. Read the manufacturer’s directions for exact times.To give yourself the cleanest surface possible, clean the surface of a metal door with acetone or mineral spirits to remove dirt, grime, and old paint residue.

Soak a rag in acetone, mineral spirits, or some other solvent, and rub the surface of the door. This step is not necessary if you're painting a wooden door.To give the new paint a good surface to adhere to, it’s important to rough up the surface of the door with sandpaper. This will also help remove any dirt and residue from the surface. Go over the entire surface of the door with 220-grit sandpaper, making sure to get all corners, nooks, and crannies. If you're painting a metal door, wait until all the odors from the solvent have dissipated before sanding. Vacuum and wipe down the door. Before you can paint the door, you must clean it to remove dust and dirt. Use a small brush attachment and vacuum the door, including all the recesses and corners. Take a slightly damp cloth and wipe down the entire surface of the door to get rid of any dust that the vacuum missed. Set the door aside and allow it to air dry for about an hour. If you cleaned a metal door with solvent, wash it with water mixed with a few drops of dish soap.

Rinse the door and allow it to dry before proceeding. Tape and paper hardware and windows. You need to protect features that cannot be removed, such as windows. Cover the window or element with newspaper, and then tape the paper in place with painter’s tape. Make sure the tape or paper covers every surface that you don’t want painted. If you left the door on its hinges, tape adjacent walls, the frame, and the hinges.You need special paints for exterior surfaces, because outside doors will be exposed to many more elements than interior ones. Your best bet for paint is either a water-based acrylic or latex paint, or an alkyd-based oil paint. Water-based paints tend to dry faster than oil paints, but oil paints will provide better protection for the surface underneath. If you currently have a water-based paint on your door, you'll have to paint over it with the same type of paint. But if you have an oil-based paint on there, you can paint over it with an oil- or water-based paint.

Make sure the paint you choose is specifically formulated for exterior surfaces.Before you paint the door, you'll have to apply a layer of primer that will help the paint get better coverage and adhere to the surface more easily. You can use an oil-based primer with oil- and water-based paints, but you can only apply a water-based paint over a water-based primer. For primer color, choose a neutral color or a lighter version of the color you're painting the door. Choose the right day to paint. The ideal day for painting will be above 50 F (10 C). Also, if you're painting outside, choose a day when there's no direct sunlight hitting the door. However, make sure it’s not raining either, and that it’s not too humid or too windy. If it’s too cold when you paint, the paint won’t dry. Wind and sun can cause the paint to dry too quickly, and humidity can prevent it from drying properly.Open your can of primer and stir it with a paint stir stick. Pour some primer into the paint tray.

Use a brush to paint the trim around one of the recessed panels. Then use the roller to paint the panel. Repeat until all the recessed panels have been painted. Use the roller to paint the rest of the door, including the top, sides, and bottom. If your door is one flat piece of wood or metal, use the roller to paint the entire door. When the primer has had enough time to dry (usually a couple hours), flip the door over and paint the other side.Fill a clean paint tray with your paint. Use the brush to paint the trim on a recessed panel first, then use the roller to finish the panel. When all the recessed panels have been painted, finish the door with the roller. Give the paint time to dry before flipping the door over and painting the other side. Apply a second coat if necessary.As soon as you’ve finished painting the final coat, remove the painter’s tape that was protecting windows and adjacent surfaces. Peel the tape off by pulling it toward yourself at a 45-degree angle.

It’s important to remove the tape when the paint is still wet, otherwise the paint may dry to the tape and peel off with it. Allow the paint to dry fully. Before replacing hardware and rehanging the door, it’s important that the door have time to fully dry. Otherwise, you may dent, smudge, or peel off the paint. Read the paint can for proper drying times for your specific paint. For most paint, you may have to wait about two days before you can rehang the door. Generally, when the paint no longer feels tacky to the touch, the door can be reinstalled.As soon as the hinges are back on your door, you can put the door back into place. Slide the door back into the frame and align the hinges. Drop the hinge pin into place, and tap it down with a hammer or the handle of a screwdriver to secure it in place. You may find it easier to have someone else help you with this. One person can hold the door in place and the other can put in the hinge pins. While you're painting your door and waiting for it to dry, use a storm door or piece of plywood in place of the door to keep out bugs and the elements.