Painting your front door is an easy and cost-effective DIY project that will instantly transform the exterior of your home. It is currently trendy to paint your front door in a bright color. Ready to give your entranceway a pop? Then it’s time to paint your fiberglass door!
You can easily paint your fiberglass door with acrylic, enamel, or epoxy paint. By following a few simple preparation steps like removing the door, taping off hardware, and cleaning, your painting project will be quick and simple.
Fiberglass doors are popular for their durability and energy efficiency. They last forever, so odds are you going to get tired of its paint color well before it’s time to replace the door. Coating your fiberglass door is a great way to liven up your home. Follow these directions for the most effective and longest-lasting application.
Can You Paint a Fiberglass Door?
If you are looking to give your front door a new look, painting it is an excellent idea. Fiberglass doors are easy to paint. Painting your door will offer additional moisture resistance and durability.
Fiberglass doors are popular because they do not split or rot. They are more energy efficient than wood doors and are also easier to maintain. Fiberglass is essentially vinyl, so make sure to select a compatible paint. The best types of paint for covering fiberglass doors are acrylic, polymer, and epoxy.
What Type of Paint Should You Use?
You want to select a paint that is compatible with fiberglass or vinyl. Be careful with oil-based paints. Not all of them will adhere well. If you want to use an oil-based paint, check the can for compatibility with fiberglass.
The best paints to choose from are enamel, polymer, or acrylic. The table below outlines different types of paints to use on your fiberglass door as well as their cost.
Door & Trim By Sherwin Williams | Unlimited (mixable) | Acrylic | $25/quart |
Urethane Alkyd Interior/Exterior by Behr | Unlimited (mixable) | Enamel | $22/quart |
Never-Fade Front Door Paint byModern Masters | 15+ Colors | Enamel | $56/quart |
Rust-Oleum Door Paint | 5+ | Oil-Based | $14/quart |
The best paint finish for the front door is satin. Satin paint offers a slight sheen and has low reflective properties. This will make the color pop! Satin paint is also easy to clean and ideal for high-traffic areas.
How Can You Prepare to Paint a Door
The easiest way to paint a door is to remove it from its hinges. This allows you to lay your door flat in a big open area. Painting outdoors allows for the paint fumes to dissipate faster. If painting outside is not an option, choose a well-ventilated area like a garage. It is possible to paint the door while it is still hung, however, you do run the risk of dropping paint on the floor.
Anything you do not want to paint needs to be taped off. Blue painter’s tape works the best, but you can also use masking tape. If you are keeping the existing hardware, put a Ziploc or plastic shopping bag over each handle and then tape the bag to the doorknob’s base. This saves you tape and avoids accidents from paint drips.
The cleaner your door is, the better the paint will adhere. The door needs to be completely dry as well. Clean the door a few hours before you are ready to paint to get the best results.
How Many Coats Do You Need?
If you apply a high-quality primer first, you will only need to apply two coats of paint. Acrylic and enamel paints will need fewer coats than oil-based paints. Oil-based paints may need three or more layers as the paint is much thinner.
You want to paint in thin, even layers. Starting with a primer helps to cancel out the original color of the door and will help in reducing the number of coats of paint that you will need.
How to Paint a Fiberglass Door
Painting a fiberglass door is easy! It is a fun way to change the look of your house. Before you start, make sure to get the proper materials. You will need:
- Painter’s tape
- Screwdriver
- Primer
- Synthetic Paint Brush
- Paint Tray
- Drop Cloth or Tarp
- Sponge and Paper Towels
- Dish Soap and Warm Water
- Paint
- Newspaper
Step 1: Remove the Door From the Hinges
The easiest way to paint the door is to remove it from its hinges. If you cannot remove the door, make sure to lay newspaper or a drop cloth under the door so that paint doesn’t accidentally drip onto your floor. It is best to paint in mild temperatures. Your door will need to stay open while you paint so you don’t want to risk letting all the heat or air conditioning out!
The paints that are most compatible with fiberglass give off toxic fumes. It is best to paint the door outside. The door will need to dry for a day so check the weather before you start your project. Bring the door outside and lay it on a tarp. If you are painting both sides of the door, it doesn’t matter which side is facing up.
If you cannot paint outside, move the door to a well-ventilated area. Putting it on the floor of the garage and opening the garage door is ideal. Make sure the area is open and easy to move around it. You will need to pick up and flip over the door so working in a tight area is not wise.
Step 2: Remove the Weatherstripping
Weatherstripping seals in the gaps around your door. You will need to remove these before you start painting. The best way to remove weather stripping is with a wire brush. You want the weather stripping to match the color of your door so that it isn’t noticeable. If you are painting the door in a drastically different color than you were before, you may want to consider changing the weather stripping.
Step 3: Clean the Door
Paint adheres best when the surface you are applying it to is dirt and dust free. Carefully wipe down the entire door. You can use all-natural, non-corrosive cleaners or just simply mix dish soap with warm water. Use a sponge and clean the door from top to bottom. Try to avoid rubbing in circles. Just move up and down.
The door needs to be completely dry before you move on to the next step. Letting the door dry naturally will take 2-3 hours, but is the best way to avoid streaks or missing a damp spot.
Step 4: Tape Around Any Glass and Hardware
If you aren’t changing out the hardware on your door, make sure to tape around it. Acrylic and enamel paint does not come off easily. Also, tape off any glass on your door. If you have windows towards the top, tape around the perimeter of the glass and then over the entire pane. You don’t want to risk drops of paint staining the glass.
If you don’t have painter’s tape, you can always remove the hardware. But this is usually more of a hassle than taking a few minutes to block off the handles.
Step 5: Apply Primer
You want to pick up a high-bond primer. Make sure that it is designed to be applied over fiberglass and will work with the type of paint you choose. Applying primer will help the paint adhere better. It will also have an increased barrier against moisture.
If your fiberglass door has a faux wood grain, apply the primer in the direction of the grain. This will give a smoother finish and will allow the texture of grain to come through the primer and paint. It is best to use a brush rather than a roller. Brushes allow for more precise work. Front doors usually have paneling or decorative detail. A brush will get the primer into every crevice.
Step 6: Apply Paint
Once your primer has dried completely, it is time to paint! It is better to apply multiple coats of thin layers. Wipe the edge of your brush off on the can before applying it to the door. This helps to remove any excess paint. Acrylic and epoxy paints are very thick, so wiping off extra paint is the only way to guarantee thin, even coats. Make sure each layer is dry before moving on to the next one.
Satin is the best finish for front door paint. Do not use semi or high-gloss paint. That will show any imperfections in your paint job and make the door extra shiny. An alternative to satin paint is flat paint. Flat paint dries in a modern, velvety finish.
Step 7: Flip and Repeat
Once the final layer of paint is dry, you can flip the door over and repeat the process. If you don’t want to paint the other side of the door, then it is ready to be installed! A new trend is to paint the exterior side of the door a bright color and the inner side of the door a neutral tone that matches your interior.
How Expensive Is It To Paint a Fiberglass Door?
If you paint your door yourself, the entire project will cost less than $75. While acrylic and enamel paint is expensive, you do not need a lot of paint. One quart will do for most doors. If you are a frequent DIYer, you probably have most of the prep materials already!
You can also hire a professional painter to paint your fiberglass door. The average cost for a professional service is $250 per door. That estimate can vary based on the size and height of your door. While expensive, hiring a professional painter does have some advantages. Most painters guarantee their work. They also handle all of the prep for you.
Conclusion
It is easy to paint a fiberglass door. Once you remove the door from its hinges and clean it, the painting process goes smoothly and quickly. The best paint to use on a fiberglass door is acrylic, enamel, or epoxy. Always prime before you paint for the best results.
Resources & Related Articles
How to Paint a Fiberglass Door? (Step-By-Step Tutorial)
Can You Paint a Fiberglass Door? | Thompson Creek
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