“Painting a front door is best done with a brush. This is because most front doors have wood and/or glass panels and a roller would not be able to paint in the panels the same way that a brush would to give full coverage.”
Front door paint can be applied using brushes or rollers, but professionals use rollers for a smooth finish. If your door has panels, painting the panels first gives you the best results: Use the roller's curved edge or the angled brush to paint the molding profiles around the panel edges.
Large brushes (3-inch to 4-inch) will hold more paint and cover a larger surface area, which helps you to finish your project faster. These brushes are ideal for exterior siding, decks, doors, or walls.
You guessed it – the best thing to use to paint a front door is a mini foam roller. The high density foam will give your door the perfect smooth finish!
If you are going to paint a plain, flat door, use a foam roller to roll on the paint and use an angled brush to paint the sides. You want to make sure you leave no roller lap marks. To remove any lap marks, roll a lightly-loaded roller over the wet coat of paint to smooth.
Get the right brush
I recommend painting doors with two different brushes; an angled 1 1/2 inch brush for the detail and edges and a 3 inch, straight brush for the rest. I find that the finish is more consistent if I use a brush for the whole door rather than switch between a brush and roller.
You will likely need two coats of exterior door paint, as the first will act as a primer. Alternatively, add a primer (step 7), and you will only need one coat of paint. If the water beads up on your new wooden door, clean it with soapy water, rinse, then leave it to dry.
In terms of what paint tool works best on doors, it's actually best to use both a brush and a roller. Brushes are really great at cutting-in and painting the edges of your doors, including the panels. They're also great at helping you paint the areas that rollers are likely to miss.
While you can choose any finish, glossy paints are typically preferred for doors and trim, because they stand out and highlight these architectural features. They also tend to stand up to nicks and scrapes better than flat or eggshell paint, meaning they could last longer.
While it's often recommended to remove your front door in order to paint it, it is possible to paint it without taking it off its hinges. Paint a front door and you'll easily add instant curb appeal to your home. The front door is your welcome sign.
Many professional painters combine spray painting, roller painting and brush painting depending on the exact surface being painted. Starting with the brush, each method is faster than the previous one, but each method is less accurate than the previous one.
There is an easier way! A foam roller. I much prefer to use a foam roller when painting any type of furniture or door. A foam roller ensures that there are no brush marks, no roller marks, and you get a beautiful even finish.
tips for painting your front door. MAKE SURE YOU DO IT ON A COOLER DAY | Because the door will have to remain open for most of the day, make sure you choose a day where it's not too hot or cold. We started our project in the morning so that we would have plenty of time to allow for drying between coats.
DON'T close the door until it's completely dry
That means at least four to five hours before you can shut it again. If you know you'll get a late start and you're worried the paint will still be wet at nightfall, remove the door and paint it horizontally, on a pair of sawhorses, in your garage or basement.
Adding a Second Coat
After your first coat of paint is dry, it's safe to recoat typically after four to six hours. A good rule of thumb is to wait at least three hours to recoat your paint or primer if it's water-based. Waiting 24 hours is best for oil-based paint and primer.
Three colors to avoid
Those colors are orange, brown, and pale green. While it may seem like a good idea to pick a shade a little more muted than yellow, orange should be avoided because of how challenging it can be to get right. It's tough to match the color to the rest of the outside paint and not look dirty.
What Is the Best Way to Paint an Interior Door? The best way to paint your door is by using both a paintbrush and a foam roller. You should begin by brushing a light coat of paint on the door. Because the brush can leave drips or runs, it is best to do this first, before the rest of the door is painted.
Before you start a paint job, you actually want to wet the paint roller cover with water. “This primes the roller cover to soak up as much paint as possible,” Barr explains. But don't go too crazy—Barr suggests removing excess moisture with a paper towel and a good shake of the roller so it's just slightly damp.
You will want to paint both sides of a front door, but you don't need to paint them the same color. Just be sure you paint the exterior side of the door a color that matches both the interior and exterior.
Fortunately, you can remove roller marks by using a wet sponge and some sandpaper. Once your paint has dried off, rub down the surface using your sandpaper. Be sure not to get rid of too much of the paint because the only goal is to even out the coating.