How to paint a wooden front door

Project overview
There’s no point replacing a door when a lick of paint can make it look brand new again. Make a statement with a bright colour or opt for a classic white, cream or grey. First things first, you don’t need a primer with our 10 Year Weatherproof Wood Paint which helps to make this job even quicker. So once you’ve prepped the wood, you can start painting straight away.
How to paint an exterior door
Remove any metal fixtures and fittings including the numbers, door handle and post box. Clean the door using a diluted all-purpose general cleaner to remove any grime and dirt.
Prepare the wood
You need to prepare the surface before you paint it.
For bare wood, use 120 grit sandpaper to sand in the direction of the woodgrain and smooth out the surface. This helps the paint stick to the surface.
Once the dust has settled, wipe down your door with white spirit.
If you spot any holes of cracks, fill them in and cover knots with knot blocker to stop them showing through your new paint.
For previously painted doors in a good condition, lightly sand it with 240 grit sandpaper. Once the dust has settled, wipe the surface down with white spirit.
For wooden doors with flaking, cracked or peeling paint, use 120 grit sandpaper to sand away the paint down to the bare wood. We recommend using an electric sander to make a quick job of it but you could use a flat scraper. Once the dust has settled, wipe it away with white spirit.
Prime the wood
If you’re using our 10 Year Weatherproof Wood Paint, you don’t need to use a primer so you can skip this step.
If using another product, apply your primer to the door and leave it to dry. Make sure you cover it thoroughly so your paint sticks consistently.
Apply the paint
Give your paint a really good stir so the colour pigments are thoroughly mixed. Apply the paint with a synthetic brush in the direction of the grain.
Leave it to dry for four hours and apply to second coat.
If your front door is bare wood, you’ll still be able to see the grain after two coats so will need a third one for solid colour.
The last coat will be weatherproof in only one hour.
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Add some colour to your outdoor wood while protecting it from harsh weather at the same time. There’s no need for primer so it’s easy to apply and will keep your wood looking good for 10 years. Not bad for a few hours work.
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