Choosing a Front Door Colour

By the time the first coat goes onto a front door, the colour decision has already been tested or it has not, and the intervals house painting riverside ca claudio corallo chocolate uses between recoats on a sunny door are shorter than the can says. Door painting in Riverside, CA is a house project where sun exposure is the main variable, and a south or west entry takes a beating.

Sun exposure and fading

Deep reds, dark blues and strong blacks fade fastest, because those pigments break down under ultraviolet light and absorb the most heat. A west-facing door under open sun may need a refresh long before the walls around it. A covered porch changes the maths, since the same colour lasts longer in shade. Look at where the door sits before choosing how bold to go.

Relating the door to the body colour

The door is the accent, so it should relate to the body colour and trim colour without matching either. Pick a colour that shares an undertone with the walls, or one that sits opposite them for contrast. Test with a sample swatch painted on a board and propped against the door, then walk out to the street and look back at it.

Sheen for a surface that is touched

A door is handled, kicked and brushed past, so the sheen needs to wipe clean. Satin and semi gloss are the usual choices, with semi gloss wearing the hardest but showing every dent in an old door. Eggshell looks softer and suits a door that is protected by a porch. Flat is a poor choice because it marks easily and cannot be cleaned.

Preparing the door properly

Take the door off its hinges where possible and lay it flat, since drips run on a vertical surface. Patching dents with filler, a scuff sand over the old finish and a bonding primer give the topcoat something to hold. A small roller with a fine nap and a brush for the panels, with the paint kept thin so it levels, does the work. Two coats of enamel or a good acrylic door paint, with full drying between, give a smooth film.

Hardware, glass and weatherstripping

Remove the handle set and mask the glass, or cut in around it with a steady hand. Paint never goes over weatherstripping, because it bonds the door to the frame. The top and bottom edges of the door are often missed and let moisture in, so they get paint too.

Keeping touch-up paint ready

A door gets chipped at the handle and the lower corners. A labelled jar of touch-up paint with the name, sheen and date, applied with a small artist brush on each chip, avoids the large dabbed patch that shows.