Paint a front door — HomeGraft

Clean, sand, prime and paint your front door in one session, matching primer and paint to wood, metal or uPVC.

FD-01Protect the area and remove hardwareLay a dust sheet under the door to catch drips and dust. Unscrew the handle, letterbox, knocker and kick plate, and put the screws in a small bag taped to the frame so you don't lose them. Cover any glass panels and the hinges with masking tape.

1 each · Dust sheet

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1 roll · Low-tack masking tape

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FD-02Work out what the door is made ofCheck a hidden edge: real wood shows grain and dents slightly if you press it; a magnet sticks firmly to bare steel; uPVC and composite doors feel slightly warm and plasticky and a magnet won't stick. This decides which primer and paint you need, so don't skip it.

FD-03Buy the right paint for the materialFor wood, buy wood primer, undercoat and gloss or satin topcoat. For steel, buy a metal (anti-rust) primer and metal-safe topcoat. For uPVC or composite, buy a specialist uPVC paint — ordinary gloss won't grip and can peel. If your house is listed or in a conservation area, check with the council's planning department before changing the door colour.

RULES

1 tin · Wood primer 250ml

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1 tin · Metal primer 250ml

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1 tin · Specialist uPVC paint 750ml

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KNOW THE RULES

Listed buildings and conservation areas can restrict the colour or finish of a front door. Check with your local council before repainting a different colour.

FD-04Sand and fillSand the whole door with 120-180 grit paper to key the surface, then fill any dents or cracks with flexible filler and sand smooth once dry. If your house was built before the 1960s and the old paint is flaking, treat it as possible lead paint: wear a dust mask, dampen the surface first, and don't dry-sand it. Wipe all dust off with a tack cloth before priming.

1 pack · Sandpaper 120/180 grit pack

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1 tube · Flexible wood filler

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1 each · P2 dust mask

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1 each · Tack cloth

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FD-05Prime bare wood or metalPrime any bare wood, filler patches or bare metal spots with the matching primer from step 3. uPVC and composite doors usually don't need a primer — check the tin. Let the primer dry fully before moving on.

1 each · Paintbrush 50mm

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FD-06Apply undercoatBrush on one or two coats of undercoat for wood or metal doors, working panels first then rails, top to bottom. Let each coat dry fully before the next. uPVC and composite doors usually skip undercoat and go straight to the topcoat — check the tin.

1 tin · Undercoat 750ml

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FD-07Apply the topcoatPaint two thin coats of topcoat, leaving the drying time stated on the tin between coats. Only paint in dry weather above 10°C with no rain forecast, and avoid painting in strong direct sun, which dries the paint too fast and shows brush marks.

1 tin · Gloss or satin topcoat 750ml

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FD-08Let it cure before closing fullyProp the door open with a wedge so it doesn't stick to the frame while it dries. Leave it for the time stated on the tin — often touch-dry in 24 hours but several days to fully harden — before shutting it normally.

FD-09Refit hardware and clean upPeel off the masking tape before the paint fully hardens so it doesn't pull paint with it. Refit the handle, letterbox, knocker and kick plate. Clean brushes in water for water-based paint, or white spirit for oil-based paint, and let solvent-soaked rags dry outside before binning them, as they can be a fire risk in a bag.

1 bottle · White spirit / brush cleaner

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FD-10Final check and tidyOnce dry, check the door in daylight for drips, missed patches or thin spots and touch up if needed. Fold away dust sheets and tools, and label any leftover paint with the colour name and date for future touch-ups.

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