How To Paint a Front Door Without Removing It

Remove door handle

Using a screwdriver, remove the door handle and lock from the door.

Family Handyman

Lightly sand the door

Lightly scuff the door with a 220-grit sanding sponge. Be careful not to apply too much pressure, as it may scratch the door deeply enough to show through the paint.

Note: If your door is in rough condition, make repairs before scuffing it. Scrape off flaking paint, fill and sand cracks and holes with wood filler, etc.

Family Handyman

Clean the door

After sanding, clean the door with a damp microfiber cloth before painting it. If it is still dirty, use a cleaning degreaser. Finish removing small dust and debris with a cheesecloth.

TIP: Use an old toothbrush to clean the tight spaces in the recessed panel edges.

Family Handyman

Tape the edges

Next, use painter’s tape to cover the edges of the door and frame.

Family Handyman

Prep the space

Lay down a drop cloth to prevent paint from dripping onto the floor.

Family Handyman

Paint the  panels

Stir the paint, and begin painting any recessed panel edges with a angled paintbrush. Start with the highest recessed panels and work your way down to the bottom.

Family Handyman

Paint edges and trim

Using the paintbrush, paint the edges of the door and the door frame.

Family Handyman

Roll the rest

Switch over to a paint roller for the large, flat surfaces of the door. Again, start at the top of the door and work your way down.

Family Handyman

Lightly sand between coats

Wait until the door is completely dry, then begin lightly sanding it with a 320-grit sanding sponge. Avoid applying too much pressure. After sanding, wipe down the door with a damp microfiber cloth and cheesecloth before painting the second coat.

Family Handyman

Paint the second coat

Repeat the process of painting the first coat on the door (steps 6- 10).

Family Handyman

Clean up and reattach doorknob

Remove the painter’s tape and put the doorknob back on when the door has completely dried. A painting tip I use whenever I’m painting in high-traffic areas, like this project, is to use a heat gun or hair dryer to speed up the paint-drying process. That way, no one touches or brushes against the wet paint. Clean off the paint brushes and rollers. Store the paint in a safe location and label it so you’ll know what project the paint was used on.

Family Handyman

FAQ

How to paint a door without drips?

Avoid rushing and overloading your paintbrush or paint roller with paint. Paint drips often occur on corners and edges, so be extra cautious around those areas of the door. Wait for the previous coat of paint to dry before applying another coat. If you notice a drip forming, use a foam roller to blend it in before it dries.

Should you paint an exterior door with a brush or roller?

When painting an exterior door, your choice of using a brush or a roller depends on the style of the door. If the door is only a flat surface, you can use a foam roller to achieve a smooth surface. However, if the door has panels, decorative edges, glass panels, etc., you will need an angled brush to reach the areas that a roller can’t. In most cases, you will need a brush and a roller to paint a door.

Do I need to prime the exterior door before painting?

Regardless of the material, an exterior door needs to be primed before being painted. The primer provides an ideal surface for the new paint to adhere fully. The surface will most likely not turn out completely smooth without priming the door. You can also purchase already primed doors to avoid the need for priming the door yourself.