Painting a fiberglass entry door is much like painting a wood door, without a need for sanding before paint is applied. Rinse the door by wiping it down with a damp sponge, then allow the door to dry completely.
For the unpainted smooth doors, we recommend lightly sanding with 220-grit sandpaper for the best results. Before applying a paint, wipe the fiberglass door and door lite frame with a damp cloth to remove any dirt, oil, or debris. Allow the surface to fully dry before painting.
Fiberglass doors and sidelights can be smooth or textured with a wood-grain finish. This material usually does not need to be primed, but painting is required. Premium steel doors are factory-primed and should be painted but not stained.
Choosing and Applying the Paint
The paint used for an exterior door should be classed as an exterior paint. These paints must also be rated for painting over fiberglass and come in gloss, semi gloss, or flat finishes. The best fiberglass paints are 100% acrylic, polyester, polyurethane, or epoxy.
Remove all the hardware and mask off anything you don't want painted, such as the glass insert. Lightly scuff sand the surface with a Scotch Brite pad or fine sandpaper. Wipe the door with acetone to clean any dust or residue from the surface. Allow acetone to dry from the surface before applying paint.
Acrylic Latex
Acrylic paint adheres well to fiberglass, overcoming one of the main challenges to painting this material. Acrylic paint is less likely to crack and blister, and will hold up well to cleaning. This water-based paint is easy to apply, and contains fewer chemicals, so is more environmentally friendly.
You can apply exterior acrylics over gel stain; however, you must prime the surface first. Use a roller to apply at least two coats of exterior acrylic primer to the door. Use a natural-bristle brush to apply the acrylic paint over the primer. One note: Dark colors will absorb more heat, which could cause warping.
Answer: Yes, you can, but the process is complicated and will vary depending on the brand and quality of the door. Some fiberglass doors cannot be re-stained because their wood-grain finish will be damaged by the stripping or sanding that you have to do first.
Sand the fiberglass using a coarse-grit sandpaper.
Mount the sandpaper to a long sanding board for large, flat components. For smaller areas or areas with intricate curves, a rubber sanding block works well to follow the shape of the piece. Never sand all the way through the gelcoat into the fiberglass itself.
Rust-Oleum Oil-Based Door Paint is designed to bring great color retention and durable protection for your exterior and interior doors. Ideal for metal, wood and fiberglass doors.
Before painting, clean the door with a degreasing cleaner. Fill holes and repair imperfections with sandable filler or spackle. Use 120-grit sandpaper to gently sand the door for a smoother surface that will absorb primer or paint more easily. After sanding, remove dust from the area before priming or painting.
If the door is made of fiberglass, you can strip with a chemical stripper just as you would if the door were made of wood. The stripper should have a methylene chloride base, and you can't let it sit for too long, or it may damage the fiberglass.
“Painting a front door is best done with a brush. This is because most front doors have wood and/or glass panels and a roller would not be able to paint in the panels the same way that a brush would to give full coverage.”
Sanding your door well, before priming and painting, is the right way to do it. Sanding will create a smooth surface that will help your paint to look great. When sanding, do a first pass with 100-150 grit sandpaper then finish with a second pass of 180-220 grit sandpaper.
What Color Should I Paint My Door Edges? Lock edges are painted the same shade as the opening side of the door, if the door is painted in a different colour. Make sure that you paint both the left side of the door hinge edge and the adjacent, visible door face in shades that resemble the other side.
A fiberglass-friendly paint can be matte, neutral, or gloss.
Primer for bottom paint is not necessary. However, if you use Tuff Stuff marine epoxy primer on the bare fiberglass, it will provide protection against blisters and any moisture. It will also improve adhesion to the hull. Tuff Stuff marine epoxy primer will last for many years.
6. **All Therma-Tru Smooth Star door systems must be finished within 6 months of the installation date for continued warranty coverage however, all bare wood surfaces (such as door frames) should be primed and painted and top coated within 2 weeks of installation or exposure to weather.
Use high-quality acrylic latex house paint (use interior grade on inside surfaces; and exterior grade on the outside surfaces following manufacturer's application instructions.
Available in a wide range of styles, paints and stains, fiberglass can be repainted or stained by do-it-yourselfers in a method similar to painting natural wood. Good surface preparation is the key to any successful paint job, and this applies to fiberglass doors.