How to Paint Your Front Door | This Old House: Live

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Cost: $200

Time: 3 days

Difficulty: Moderate

Shopping List:

Tools:

Steps for Painting a High-Gloss Front Door
1. Remove the door from the hinges and remove the hardware.
2. Sand the door down to bare wood using 80 grit sandpaper.
3. Prime the door using an exterior grade oil-based primer.
4. Allow the door to dry overnight before adding the next coat.
5. Lightly sand the door using 220 grit sandpaper.
6. Patch any imperfections in the door with wood putty.
7. Rehang the door before painting to prevent dust from falling on the door. This particular paint is very thick, so there is no concern about dripping.
8. Protect the area with canvas and plastic drop cloths.
9. Paint the door using an exterior grade oil-based paint.
10. Allow the door to dry overnight before adding the final coat.
11. Lightly sand the door using 220 grit sandpaper.
12. Wipe down the door with a tack cloth to remove any dust.
13. Apply the final coat of paint to the door.

Resources:

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How to Paint Your Front Door | This Old House: Live

[JaxBushman]

I tried this method and it worked awesome. I mean, someone walked in my house last night and stole everything I own, but other than that, my door looks fantastic 👌

[WillSpires]

You need to make another video on how to do this in 1 day. In the world I live in I can't leave my door off the hinges for 3 days and feel safe. We need practical real world solutions.

[Maggie]

Just painted my front door with a very similar paint color- Sherwin Williams Derbyshire. Not so glossy though. We also have an outside glass door in front of it, so the painted door is not exposed to the elements outside. Really nice Green color & when you hang decor on it, that Green color makes everything just pop.😉

[BSnedeker]

OK but what did they do for a front door overnight? Just left the front of their house doorless?

[tylerljacobs]

It’s so frustrating to see these videos that don’t show the final product. TOH has a reputation for not showing the end of all the projects. Why is that?

[upscalebohemian]

No suggestion on what to do to secure your house while that door is off the hinges? Do they pu in a cheap temporary door?

[paulacurran]

How do you secure your home with your front door off or open during the drying process?

[barbarabachman]

No one ever seems to go into much detail as to what color to paint the hinge edge or open edge of doors, but it should be covered, as well as addressing the color of the jams.

[redfoxranch]

Thanks for the video! I love y'alls content. I painted an exterior door at my place the other day. I did like y'all did and took it down, laid it flat, removed all the hardware, cleaned and sanded it, the thing that I did different is that I spray painted it with an airless spray gun. I think that gives a much better result. I would say it always best to spray trim and doors. Only problem I had was dang flies! Couple landed in the wet paint and make a bit of blemish :-( troubles of living with livestock nearby I guess lol.

[garyb]

I'm confused. The door was removed, primed, then left overnight to dry. I guess they don't have many burglars around that area.

[bradb]

I sanded my door at 10am put primer kilz complete 3 on the door At 11am. And from 12 pm to 1 pm I painted the door. I put plastic down. In 3 hours I completely painted a door. It looks fantastic. Nothing takes a week long process. I used a craftsman sander with Diablo grit sand paper. I used a steady hand to not get paint everywhere. Might do a 2nd coat to finish it. But painting a door takes under half a day. I have painted inside doors in 15 mins where sanding and primer wasn't needed.

[blueberryice]

I thought they were wearing the masks because of the paint then saw when the video was uploaded lol

[lqdxoni]

i see a red door and i want to paint it black

[intothemystic]

Green with blue shingles?? I wanted to see the finished product t!!

[TabithaKocielko]

My question is what do you do while your front door is out of commission for three days? 😅

[PorscheCaymanB]

I live in a nice neighborhood but I wouldn't feel safe leaving my front door off for a few days. Is there a faster drying paint?

[mpwall]

So. One lives without a front door for days on end during this process?

[peterputnam]

Whenever I replace an insulated exterior door I have the homeowner pick a color and then I bring it to a friend who does auto body work and he will spray an auto paint on the exterior let's the door last forever. I never have to go back and replace it again.

[korblibj]

Thanks for the video, I feel like I got a few tips but was surprised that we didn't see the finished product! That's supposed to be the "here's why you do it this way" part of the video. Is this from an episode we can find?

[edsherrod]

After reading some of the replies, I must say they only provide the 30, 000 foot view of painting the door. No real details like - what kind of brush do I use, what is the best way to brush the paint on in order to minimize brush strokes, not to mention how to protect my house while the door dries. I guess this video isn't for novice painters like most of us would be.