Why You Should Paint Your Home’s Front Door

Painting your front door expresses a feeling of pride in ownership, a perfect way of letting your personality shine on the blank canvases of your front door. Therefore, this helps you to continue having the same artistic expression on the front door of your house. Note that while painting the facade of your home is fun, painting or staining your front door is an essential and helpful exercise that can help you save money. Here are some perks of front door painting and staining.

Preventing termite damage

Front door painting and staining help in sealing off all the exposed areas that are prone to termite damage and other pests that feast on woods.

 

Protecting your home from harsh winters

It is evident that the negative impacts of extreme temperatures, salt, and ice on humans can never go unnoticed. For that reason, you can imagine what happens to your front door during this period. A fresh protective coating will add a barrier to your door and harsh climatic conditions.

 

Increasing curb appeal

If you plan to sell your home, a freshly painted front door will bring a tremendous difference. Even if your house is not up for grabs, giving your front door, a refresh will enhance the charm of your vicinity.

 

Helps in maintaining structural integrity

Mildew and mold can damage the structural integrity of the wood surface of your home. Unguarded wood is much more vulnerable to water damage. If you fail to paint your front door, its wood’s surface will absorb water from the rain and dew. The woods will eventually swell and make it decay, forcing you to replace the boards or even the entire door.

 

Saves you from splinters

In some cases, front door painting might help you to fill the splinters and even add an extra year to the lifespan of your front door wood.

 

 

What you need to know before you paint your front door

Note that every part of your home needs quality maintenance to some extent, and this includes your front door. Painted doors are more vulnerable to chipping, and for this reason, they require some maintenance like painting. However, you need to set a date so that you can choose a color, buy the required supplies and complete the work.

Additionally, you should consider the time of the year and the weather forecast before you start the task. Clear and sunny climate with reasonable temperatures are favorable. This is because they will allow the paint to dry.

 

Choosing a color

Taping paint chips to your front door is one of the best ways to select a color. Once you narrow down your selections to two or three preferred colors, you might also need to buy some samples of paint so that you can compare a large snip of colors next to the other. Ensure that you look at the swatches at different times of the day to find out how the color changes as the light brighten and dims.

The type of paint to use

While painting a single front door that has primed, you will require a quart of paint. If your door is not separated by a glass or storm door, you must use an exterior paint. Even though you can use any finish, glossy paints are the most preferred ones since they stand out and highlight architectural features of your home. Additionally, the glossy paints tend to last longer than other paints since they are not vulnerable to nicks and scrapes. An essential aspect to bear in mind is if you are using a latex or oil-based paint. This is because the type of primer you use must match the type of paint you use.

 

Preparation work for painting

You can choose to apply the paint while the front door is still in place or you remove it from the hinges if you have a storm or glass door. You can use a tape or canvas over the opening if you prefer to remove the door while painting. While changing the colors, you will need to prime the door before painting. Whether you apply the paint while the door is still in place or on sawhorses, you must remove all the hardware. On top of that, you will need to clean the door using a wet rag and then scrap it with a sander to eliminate any imperfections. Make sure you wipe all the dust from sanding before applying the paint.

 

How to paint

You can begin by applying the primer and make sure you cover the door completely. Once the primer has dried up, use a paintbrush to brush through any trim work or details on the front door. Use a paintbrush to apply the paint since it will give you a nice hand-painted appearance.