However occasionally you may be ready for an entirely new look.
New wooden door paint.
Paint a flat door with a brush pad or roller with a 1 4 inch nap or foam sleeve.
Select door paint for one primed exterior door you ll need at least one quart of paint.
Almost every inch of your home requires some amount of maintenance including your front door.
The texture that rollers impart works well for walls and ceilings but isn t attractive on doors or wood trim.
Sand the door with a palm sander and 120 grit sandpaper if it is made from new unfinished wood.
Once the dust has settled wipe it away with white spirit.
Wipe it down with a damp rag just before painting.
Some of my favorite whites for trimwork and doors are benjamin moore s cloud white and dove white in either semi gloss or satin.
You have to lay down the paint and smooth it out before it becomes too sticky to work with or so stiff that brush marks won t level out and disappear.
If your door is paneled start with the panels.
Painted doors are prone to chipping over time and can require touch ups.
We recommend using an electric sander to make a quick job of it but you could use a flat scraper.
Painting a door is a race against time.
Switch to a mini roller.
Start with a dust free door.
Choose an interior door paint color if you re painting your door white and have white trim around it i recommend using the same paint color and finish as the trim.
Be certain the label states the pail contains exterior paint not interior paint.
Since your door will be exposed to rain sun wind and other elements you ll need flexible and mold resistant exterior paint.
Remove the door knobs and all other hardware from your interior door to simplify the paint application.
If you re replacing the old hardware make sure the new hardware will match.
Getting an outdoor wood surface ready for a fresh coat of paint isn t difficult but it does require a little prep work to ensure that the new paint has a smooth stable surface to cling to.
In either case set aside time perhaps a weekend to select a color purchase supplies and complete the task.
Consider a paint additive to slow down drying and improve leveling.
Using semigloss exterior paint and a 2 inch angled sash brush with synthetic bristles paint around the edges of the panels.
Your first step will be to give the entire surface a thorough cleaning to remove the stubborn dirt and grime that s built up over the years.
Choose paint recommended for interior doors such as types with a durable gloss or semi gloss sheen that makes it easy to clean.
For wooden doors with flaking cracked or peeling paint use 120 grit sandpaper to sand away the paint down to the bare wood.