First impressions are what people use to form an opinion about you, your home, your vehicle, and everything in the world. When you see a front door that is beautifully painted and kept you automatically get a feeling that the people who live behind that door are responsible, neat, and someone you would like to know better.
Painting your front door allows you to have a unique entry that distinguishes your home or space from all of the similar homes in your neighborhood. The painting is easy to do and can be done with a simple paintbrush.
When you are painting a door with a brush you want to make sure that there are no brush marks left to be notified when the paint dries. We talked to some professional renovation experts and painters to find out if there are any tricks to applying paint without leaving brush and roller marks.
In 7 Easy Steps Paint Your Front Door Without Brush Marks
Before you rush out to buy some paint you need to figure out what preparations you will need to do, and the steps involved in painting a door perfectly.
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
The first step to any paint application is to gather all of the supplies you will need before you begin. This eliminates the need for you to run to the store before the project is completed.
Things you need before starting:
Screwdriver: You are going to need a Phillips head screwdriver to remove the door handle and many other components, like the screws in the hinges. You may also need to use a flat-blade screwdriver to take the hinge pins out of the door when you are taking it down.
Sawhorses: You need a place to lay the door slab while you are working.
Sandpaper: You need a fine, a medium, and a rough grit
Paint Brush: 2 ½” Paintbrush for door painting.
Paint Roller and Roller Cover: 3” to 5” paint roller and roller cover (not needed if you are simply going to brush paint the door).
Primer: (must be exterior grade) Do not consider skipping the primer if you want the best paint adherence and ultimate protection.
Stirring stick: Use the stir stick to mix the paint.
Paint: (must be exterior grade) Your best option is to purchase paints that are enamels or water-based acrylic alkyd. Professionals choose these because they are durable and they leave an excellent finish. These paints cost a little more than some other ones, but now is not the time to go cheap. The higher quality material will provide more protection and will leave a better finish.
Painter’s tape: This is critical for covering windows or sections of decoration that cannot be removed but you do not want to paint.
Small container for hinges and hardware: The screws, hinges, door locks, thrust bolts, and components of the door must be removed to prevent them from being painted. You need these components to be ready and available when you are finished with the unit, so keep them in a container in a safe place.
Newspaper, parchment paper, cardboard, or butcher paper to cover the window if the door has one.
To learn more about how to avoid painting mistakes check this one.
Step 2: Remove The Door
Take the door down and remove all hinges and hardware. You will put the panel on the sawhorses to support it while you work.
DO NOT try to paint the door with it standing in place. The results are never the best.
Step 3: Clean the Surface
You have to clean the dirt, debris, and dust particles from the unit before you can begin to paint it. You also have to allow the surface to dry completely before you start to sand or prepare the item for painting.
Step 4: Sanding the Door
Run your bare hand over the door and see if you feel any rough spots. If you do those areas need light sanding to create a smoother surface. You need to use a light touch when you are sanding because you do not want to damage the surface.
Sanding must be done if you can see brush marks from a previous paint job. You do not want to be able to see or feel any roughness on the surface of the panel. When you are finished sanding you MUST clean away all of the dust. A dry paintbrush can help you to remove the dust from panels and grooves in the slab.
Step 5: Apply the Primer on Front Door
If you use a roller, you are more likely to get a finish that is totally smooth. If you use a brush the key is to not push the brush. You want to load it with the paint and gently glide it over the surface with little force.
The primer creates a barrier and protector for you. It should be applied with the grain of the wood. It is tempting to make a thick coverage so you do not have to paint over the area more than once, but thin coats are less likely to have brush marks. Thin coats dry faster. Thin coats have fewer runs and drips. Thin coats are what the professional applies.
When the primer is completely dry run your hand over it to feel for a smooth consistency. If you feel any roughness or see any brush marks you need to do a light sanding before you move on to the paint. The primer MUST be 100% dry before you start sanding or painting.
Step 6: Paint Application
After the primer, it is time to add the paint. You want to make thin coats that run with the grain of the wood. It is not uncommon on a door for the wood grain to change in different sections, so pay attention to your wood grains and paint with them.
You want to have a light touch with a consistent amount of pressure each time. Do not mash the bristles of the brush to make more paint come off of it.
After each coat, you need to allow the color to dry completely and then do a very light sanding to remove any brush grooves that are developing. Always clean all of the sanding dust from the surface before applying another coat of paint.
You may have to apply two or more coats before you achieve the perfect finish and color hue that you want. This is okay. Take your time and use as many coats as you need.
Read More>> How to Paint Aluminum Siding
Step 7: Hanging the Door
When the door is completely dry you can replace the hardware you removed, and then hang the unit back in the casing. Be sure that the paint is completely cured because you can scratch or damage the paint while doing this work.
It is best if you can get someone to help you hang the door back in the casing hole.
Tips from the Experts for Door Painting
- If you paint perpendicularly to the grain of the wood you will almost always have brush marks.
- Do not paint outside because the wind and air carry dirt and particulates that can create flaws in the finish.
- If you have to thin the paint, use a conditioner instead of water and you will be less likely to leave brush marks.
- Buy high-quality paints that are designed to be scuff-resistant and to be self-leveling.
- Do not paint when the temperature is over 900
- Be consistent but work quickly enough that the paint does not become too sticky for you to level out the marks if you see some
Final Thoughts
Painting is the easiest method of making visible changes to your home. A different color on the door can give the entire home a different look and feel. Most people paint these items without hiring a professional.
It takes very little paint to make your entry door a beautiful expression of your personality. Patience and proper preparation can provide you with a flawless finish that will last for years to come.
