How to Paint your Front Door: Top Tips | Decorating Centre Online

How would I paint my exterior doors?

Painting exterior surfaces is very different to painting indoor surfaces!

When the sun finally starts to come out, it’s the perfect time to start painting a whole variety of different outdoor spaces.

However, if you’re unsure on how to prepare and paint your outdoor surfaces, just follow this easy step-by-step guide below or even DM, call or email us if you have any questions! 

Decorating Centre Online- Colour Match Paint from £13.99

How do I paint my Wooden Front Door?

Sometimes when you move into a new home- or even if you are currently living in it- you can have your entire house laid out perfectly, however, your front door might not fit the look you have for your home.

Whether your door is solid wood, composite or even uPVC, you can paint is perfectly fine with the help of our Front Door & Garage Door Paint Bundle

What you will need:

• Front Door & Garage Door Paint Bundle (includes DCO Colour Match of Zinsser AllCoat, Zinsser Universal Degreaser and Cleaner, Paint Brush, Low-Tac Tape, Dust Sheet)
• ProDec Premier Cutting-In Paint Brush (only if Front Door Bundle hasn't been purchased)
• Zinsser Universal Degreaser and Cleaner
• Decorator’s Tape (only if Front Door Bundle hasn't been purchased)
• Damp Clean Cloth 
• Zinsser Bulls Eye 123
• Sandpaper 
• Mini Roller Frame
• Mohair/Wool Mini Roller Sleeves

Getting Started:

Step 1: Select a Colour you would like Colour Matched

There are so many different colours which can be matched for our AllCoat Colour Match Paint- over 19,000 colours!- that you must first choose a colour which you are happy with.

Below are some colour palettes for front doors which we think would work well:

All of the colours above can be matched using the codes below:

Greens:

Evening Emerald PPG1144-6⁠

Crystal Ball PPG1144-7 ⁠
Holly Glen PPG1144-4⁠
Sea Sprite PPG1143-3⁠

Pinks:

Ashes of roses PPG1056-3

Reindeer PPG1059-3

Pepperberry PPG 1055-4

Mexicali Rose PPG18-06

Neutral:

Silver Screen PPG1014-3⁠
Grey Whisper PPG1014-2⁠
Pacific Pearl PPG1014-1⁠
Silver Feather PPG530-1⁠

Blue:

Blueberry Pie PPG1163-7⁠
Cavalry PPG1041-7⁠
Blue Bayberry PPG1149-7⁠
Blue Lava PPG1155-7⁠

Or check out the video below for some helpful hints about what colour you should paint your front door:

Step 2: Choose a Sheen Level 

There are three different finishes which you can choose in the Zinsser AllCoat Colour Match paint: Matt, Satin and Gloss.

The different finishes for this exterior paint are all perfectly suitable to paint front doors with and all have a very similar durability, so it really is dependent on how much sheen you prefer in your paint finishes. 

Step 3: Prepare the area for painting

Even though you are painting outdoors, if you don’t prepare the area perfectly for painting, you could risk leaving paint splatters all over the floor and other areas you don’t want them.

This will be more difficult to remove than to prevent from happening!

The easiest way to do this is to lay down either a cloth or a polythene dust sheet to prevent any paint splatters from appearing in areas which they shouldn’t be!

After that, you should tape off any areas of the door which you do not want painted. For instance, if you are painting your door two different colours- one around the edges and one in the middle- the tape could certainly help with that!

I would even recommend taping any edges of the wall which you are wanting not painted in order to create a crisp and straight edge.

Using decorator’s tape, rather than normal duct tape or even masking tape, is one of the best ways to ensure that you will have a straight edge to your door, without damaging the wall, or even the paint of the wall if it has been previously painted! 

Step 4: Clean the door down and then Sand it lightly

As it is a front door which you are painting, it is best for you to clean down the door as much as you can.

Any dust, dirt, water, dried muck or anything else which has found its way onto your door must be completely washed off before you paint your door. 
The easiest way to do this is to use our Zinsser's Degreaser & Cleaner.

This is to ensure that your door will have a smooth finish which will adhere to the wall and not chip off or crack away from the door.

This can be done by cleaning down your walls with a damp clean cloth until all the muck is completely washed off.

It is then recommended that you lightly sand down the surface of your door until you are left with a smooth surface, ready to prime and paint.

If this step is missed, you will potentially have a finished coat of paint which will have lumps, bumps and cracks in as a result of the surface being contaminated with old, flaking paint or dirt, muck and other materials which will be mixed in with the final coat of paint. 

Make sure to tape any areas you don't want to paint on and to lay down a dust sheet on the floor to protect areas from any paint splatters and accidents etc. 

Decorating Centre Online- Zinsser AllCoat Interior & Exterior Colour Match

Step 5: You may have to Prime the Area beforehand

Although the Zinnser AllCoat paint is a self-primer and therefore means that it will not need a layer of primer in order to block stains or for it to stick to a smooth surface, depending on the condition of the wall, you may need to prime beforehand!

The best primer to use for your front door is Zinsser’s Bulls Eye 1-2-3 as it is a water-based primer which is also a sealer and provides a bond coat for your top coat. With its unique formula, it can stick to even glossy surfaces which blocks any difficult stains from showing through your paintwork.

This means that it is perfect for front doors!

Leave to dry for the appropriate time- this will usually be stated on the back of the tin. 

Decorating Centre Online- Zinsser Bulls Eye 123

Step 6: Painting your Door

Now that you have fully prepared you door, you can do the exciting bit! Start painting!

In order to achieve a smooth, non-blotchy surface on your front door is to follow a very specific guideline. The best way to paint your door is to follow this timeline below:

1.) Fill in the panels of the door

2.) Fill in the vertical sections of the panels

3.) Paint the horizontal sections at the top, then the middle and then the bottom

4.) Finally, paint the outside vertical panels

TOP TIP: Cut into your front door! Follow our step-by-step guide below on how to cut into your door effectively! 

Decorating Centre Online- Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Interior & Exterior Primer-Sealer Stain Killer £9.75

How do I cut into the edges of my front door?

1. Decide which areas of your door that you will need to cut into as well as which areas you need to protect from your paint too.

2. Choose either a delicate or a normal decorators masking tape as normal masking tape can pull up the paint, or even damage the wall.

3. Use this decorators masking tape in the areas of the walls in which you need to keep the paint from or cut into. This specialised masking tape will help you maintain neat and perfectly straight lines throughout the cutting in process.

4. Use a good brush to reduce any bristle loss- which can severely alter the look of your walls as well as lessen the smooth look which you are trying to achieve. An angled brush can be used for either techniques above.

5. This cutting in process must be done all at once or there could be a visible band around the walls where the paint has dried at different times. 

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PRO TIP: Don’t paint too far ahead! Make sure that the cutting in edge is wet so that you will be able to suitably blend the edges with the entire wall.

This is because if you do not do this, you will end up with your walls looking like ‘picture frames’ which is where e you will see a visible distinction between the cut-in edges as the rolled in sections.

Therefore, it is essential that you blend in the edges with the wall in a suitable way. 

PRO TIPS: For the smoothest finish possible, it is best to lightly sand between the prep coat and the first coat once dry, and again between the top coats too! 
Use a Mini Roller Frame with Mohair/Wool Mini Roller Sleeves for the best finish on the rest of your door!

If you need some help with painting tips, check out our blog post ‘Woodwork Woes: How to Paint Wood’ and ‘Step-by-step: Painting Walls’ for more handy tips and tricks!

Leave to dry for at least two hours before applying a second coat.

Admire your work! 

Check out the video below for some more handy tips and tricks on how to paint your wooden front door:

How would I Paint my UPVC Front Door?

Much like the guide above, there are many reasons why you would want to paint your front door, however rather than having the traditional wooden door, you may have a more modern UPVC door instead.

However, don’t fear! You can easily paint your UPVC doors into many different Colour Match Colours by following the step-by-step guide below!

What is a UPVC Door?

Also known as Unplasticised polyvinyl chloride (uPVC), these types of doors are made from an energy-efficient plastic which is rigid, even when affected by the heat of the sun or any dramatic temperature changes. 

Decorating Centre Online- Front Door & Garage Door Paint Bundle (includes DCO Colour Match of Zinsser AllCoat, Zinsser Universal Degreaser and Cleaner, Paint Brush, Low-Tac Tape, Dust Sheet)

How do I Paint UPVC Front Doors?

Although different UPVC doors react in very different ways, it is much better if you are painting an older UPVC door, rather than a newer one. This is because it is often much harder to bind paint to a newer UPVC door as a result of the manufacturing process.

As a result of the surface of a UPVC door, it is essential that you choose the correct paint for the door, as well as a paint that is durable and washable enough for an outdoor space too!

For a paint that will bond to the surface of the UPVC door, expand and contract according to the temperature, protect against UV rays as well as retain a pigment, you will need a very durable and strong paint for a UPVC door.

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What you will need to paint a UPVC Front Door: 

Front Door & Garage Door Paint Bundle (includes DCO Colour Match of Zinsser AllCoat, Zinsser Universal Degreaser and Cleaner, Paint Brush, Low-Tac Tape, Dust Sheet)

• ProDec Premier Cutting-In Paint Brush (only if Front Door Bundle hasn't been purchased)
• Zinsser Universal Degreaser and Cleaner
• Decorator’s Tape (only if Front Door Bundle hasn't been purchased)
• Damp Clean Cloth 
• Zinsser Bulls Eye 123
• Mini Roller Frame
• Mohair/Wool Mini Roller Sleeves

What is Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer? 

Zinsser Bulls Eye 123 Interior & Exterior Primer-Sealer Stain Killer is a classic universal interior and exterior, water-based, primer-sealer. It offers low odour application, quick drying convenience and excellent andhesion to glossy surfaces. 

Zinsser Bulls Eye 123 effectively primes and seals a wide variety of interior and exterior surfaces. A ‘bond coat’ primer that’s great for hard-to-stick surfaces, it offers excellent adhesion without sanding. 

Zinsser Bulls Eye 123 also prevents rust formation when applied over clean ferrous metal such as iron and steel. It permanently and completely seals graffiti, grease spots, tar and asphalt – inside and out. 

It resists flash rusting in its “wet” state – and provides rust resistance for the life of the coating. It dries to a smooth, tight, water-resistant film. 

What is Zinsser AllCoat Colour Match Paint? 

Zinsser AllCoat Exterior Colour Match Paint is an ultimate performance paint that offers supreme protection to all exterior and interior surfaces including wood, metal, masonry, plastic, concrete and cladding.

Zinsser AllCoat is self-priming and can be applied to previously painted surfaces without sanding, even over glossy paints or those coated with bitumen, tar, varnish or creosote.

Zinsser AllCoat gives excellent resistance against cracking, blistering and flaking. The tough finish is resistant to rain and severe weather and offers excellent colour retention, in addition, the paint contains a biocide to protect the dried coating against fungal degradation. 

Check out the video below for more information about Zinsser's AllCoat:

After removing any existing mould and mildew, two coats of AllCoat will ensure that any exterior looks bright and beautiful for years. 

Customers can now get this ultimate performance exterior and interior paint matched to hundreds of colours with DCO's equivalent colour match service and have it delivered next day!

Unlikely some other retailers that provide colour match services, at DCO we never use colour scanners to produce a colour match because of the variable results this can create. We use formulas instead which provide a very accurate colour match to the original Big Brand colours.

Our colour matches are developed and tested extensively by the paint manufacturers and can be matched to the same colour even years later. 

Decorating Centre Online- ProDec Advance Precision Edge Masking Tape 

How should I start painting my exterior UPVC front door? 

If you are still unsure on how to paint your UPVC front door, you can follow the step-by-step guide below on how to go about painting the doors to make it easier and quicker for you! 

It's very similar to painting your wooden doors!

Step 1: Follow the directions for painting wooden doors as stated above 

Just like some of the steps above about how to paint wooden front doors, painting UPVC front doors have the same steps as above. For example: 

1.) Clean down the door using Zinsser's Degreaser & Cleaner

2.) Lay down a dust sheet 

Step 2: Degrease the UPVC Front Door 

Using a methylated spirit and a clean cloth, scrub the area down in order to degrease the UPVC door. 

Allow this to dry before moving onto the next step below. 

Step 3: Prime the UPVC Door with an appropriate primer 

Although Zinsser’s AllCoat is a self-primer, UPVC doors require a new level of adhesion which some types of wooden doors do not. 

The best primer for this is stated above and is Zinsser’s Bull’s Eye 1-2-3. The best way to use this primer is to firstly tape off any areas that you do not want to prime or get primer on. 

Using a paint brush- but preferably not an angled paint brush- paint on strokes of your primer in a random motion. 

Check out the video below for more information about Zinsser's Bulls Eye 1-2-3:

Allow this Zinsser’s Bull’s Eye 1-2-3 primer to dry for the appropriate time- which will be stated on the back of the tin- and add an additional layer of this primer if you think it is necessary. 

PRO TIP: Your primer layer does not have to be completely solid for it to be used, just enough for you to be able to adhere your top coat of paint into the primer layer. 

You will not need a primer layer if you are using the gloss or satin finish, however it is not harmful if you use it as a precaution anyway! 

Step 4: Paint your UPVC front door 

Follow the steps above for a non-blotchy paint surface of your UPVC front door:

1.) Fill in the panels of the door

2.) Fill in the vertical sections of the panels

3.) Paint the horizontal sections at the top, then the middle and then the bottom

4.) Finally, paint the outside vertical panels 

Leave to dry for the appropriate time- check the back of the tin for manufacturer’s instructions. 

And you’re done!

Check out the video below to learn more about how to paint UPVC front doors: 

If you need any more help or advice for your decorating project, please don’t hesitate to DM us on any of our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter & YouTube), email us on sales@decoratingcentreonline.co.uk, phone us on 01388 665844 or even live chat us on our website.

We look forward to hearing from you!