How to Paint Your Front Door
As the focal point of your home’s exterior, your front door plays an important role in setting the tone for the rest of the property. Repainting your front door is a quick, easy and very doable way to instantly upgrade your home’s exterior. Read on to learn how to prepare your front door for painting.
Tools for the Job
✔ Microfibre cloth
✔ Fluxaf PowerClean or Sugar Soap
✔ Medium to fine sandpaper (120 – 180 grade)
✔ Prestonett Wood Filler & Filling Knife
✔ Roller: Mini Roller Frame & Wooster Jumbo-Koter Mohair Sleeve
✔ Primer: Ralston Aqua All-Primer (water-based) or Ralston Uni-Primer (oil-based)
✔ Topcoat: Ralston Aqua in a Satin or High Gloss finish
Before You Start
This is a great weekend project! Just be sure to pick a time when the weather’s good, to give your door a good chance to dry fully. Our advice? If you can’t dry your clothes outside, it’s probably not the right time to paint!
Step 1: Prepare the Area
First things first, remove all hardware (door handles, numbers, letterboxes etc.) and store them in a safe place. To avoid misplacing small items, pop them into a labelled container for easy access later.
If you'd rather not remove the hardware, you can leave it in place and protect it with a good-quality masking tape. We recommend using Deltec Gold Masking Tape for this purpose as it leaves no residue and will help you achieve clean, straight lines.
Put any floor mats away and lay down a dust sheet to protect the ground from paint spills, splashes and splatters.
Step 2: Clean
Thorough cleaning is a crucial part of surface preparation and sets the foundation for a flawless finish.
Use a degreaser, like Fluxaf PowerClean, to tackle stubborn stains, dirt and grime with ease. Alternatively, a simple sugar soap solution will do the job. Whichever cleaner you choose, apply it using a lint-free cloth to avoid leaving fibres on the surface.
Once the door is clean, allow it to dry completely before moving on to the next step.
Step 3: Sand
Sanding is a key step when painting a front door, as it helps the new paint stick to the surface. By creating a slightly rough texture (also known as a 'key'), sanding ensures better adhesion and a longer-lasting, more professional-looking finish.
Start by using a scraper to remove any loose or flaking paint.
Painting a wooden door? Sand the surface lightly with a medium to fine sandpaper (120 – 180 grade). When finished, use a clean, dry cloth to wipe away all dust. Pat McDonnell Paints stocks a wide range of sanding options, including sandpaper, sanding blocks, and sanding sponges—so you’ll have everything you need to get the job done right.
Painting a PVC, uPVC or Aluclad door? Great news! Sanding is not required - you can skip straight to the next step!
Step 4: Fix (Wooden Doors Only)
If you’re working with a wooden door, now’s the time to repair any cracks, chips, or holes.
Apply Prestonett Wood Filler using a filling knife, smoothing out any air bubbles as you go to ensure a seamless finish. Once the filler has fully dried, sand the area until it’s smooth and flush with the rest of the door. Finally, wipe away all dust with a clean, dry cloth.
Step 4: Prime
Priming your door before applying a topcoat helps to create a smooth, even base that improves paint adhesion, enhances durability, and ensures a more vibrant, long-lasting finish. However, whether or not you need to prime the door will depend on several factors, so it’s best to speak with a member of our expert team first for tailored advice.
If you are painting a PVC, uPVC or Aluclad door, then you will need to use a water-based primer such as Ralston All-Primer. Keep a damp cloth and some water on-hand for quick and easy clean-up as you go.
If you are repainting a door that was previously coated in oil-based paint, you will need an oil-based primer. For this, we recommend Ralston Uni-Primer as this will allow you to apply a water-based topcoat. Be sure to keep white spirits handy for cleaning brushes and tools.
Pro Tip: Both Ralston All-Primer and Ralston Uni-Primer can be tinted into the colour of your choosing!
Whatever product you choose, make sure to thoroughly mix the paint with your trusty Pat McDonnell Paints stirring stick before starting.
Starting from the top and working your way down, use a good-quality 2” brush to cut in around any edges, grooves and masked-off areas. You can then use a mini-roller to quickly and easily cover larger areas with primer.
Allow the primer to dry fully according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Step 5: Paint!
Now for the fun part—painting!
A question we’re often asked is: “Do I really need a topcoat if I’ve used a tinted primer?” The answer is yes. While a tinted primer provides a helpful base, the topcoat is essential for protecting your door against UV damage, moisture, scratches, dents and more, keeping it looking its best for years to come.
For your topcoat, we recommend Ralston Aqua, a water-based trim paint that can be tinted to any colour — including those from the popular Ralston Your Style collection. This paint comes in a range of finishes including satin (35% sheen level) and high gloss (80% sheen). Remember, despite popular belief, a gloss finish does not offer more protection than satin—it’s simply a different look and feel.
To start, give the paint a good mix with your stirring stick. To apply your topcoat, use a brush or roller, starting from the top and working your way down. Use a 2” brush to cut in around edges, grooves, and any masked-off spots, then a mini-roller to quickly cover larger areas.
If you need a second coat, wait for the first to dry completely before applying it. You can find out more information about drying times in the manufacturer's instructions.
Pro Tip: Lightly sand the door between coats to prevent drips and achieve a smoother, more professional, and hardwearing finish.
Feeling inspired or need some paint advice? Why not call into your local branch of Pat McDonnell Paints and speak with one of our experts! Fast & free delivery on all orders.