“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.”
There are plenty of quality brushes sold on Amazon; we recommend the Wooster Brush and Purdy as a good pro-grade brush that will make your door painting easier. And don't rule out a paint roller. You could use the brush to cut in the edges first, and then use the roller to paint the flat areas fast.
Rollers work best on doors with a primarily flat surface. They aren't suitable for highly ornate or carved doors that require the finesse of a brush to get to the details. Proper preparation before you start and using the roller correctly ensure a smooth coat and attractive finish on the completed door.
What is the best roller for painting front doors? You guessed it – the best thing to use to paint a front door is a mini foam roller. The high density foam will give your door the perfect smooth finish!
Generally, the best paint for interior doors is semi-gloss because it is easy to clean and produces a finish that lasts for a long time, but gloss is good too.
Add Floetrol To Your Door Paint
Floetrol is a paint conditioner, not a paint thinner like water and is the number one thing you can do to eliminate brush and roller marks.
3/16 to 1/4-inch thickness is perfect for smooth surface roller covers for painting metal doors, interior doors, trim and cabinets. They work well with semi-gloss or gloss coatings and both oil- and water-base enamels. 3/8 to 1/2-inch thickness is preferable for semi-smooth surfaces such as drywall.
Doors can be awkward to remove from their frames, so it's often easier to paint them in place. That way, you can paint both sides without having to wait for one side to dry. You also don't have to worry about nicking the fresh paint when you re-hang the door.
How To Gloss Paint A Door With A Roller. Best way to gloss painting a door using a roller, is simply keeping a wet edge at all times. A semi-gloss paint has it's own gloss built into the formulation, and utilizing the maximum amount of it's own gloss is laying it on as quickly and uniformly as possible.
The Best Rollers for Painting Furniture
Over the years I have used several different brands of foam rollers and haven't found a noticeable difference between them. They all give a nice smooth finish. They typically come in four or six inch sizes.
Old wooden doors generally need sanding and priming. To get a smooth working surface, scrape off any peeling pieces and sand down the old paint until the surface of the door feels even all over. Start with a medium 120-grit piece of sandpaper and then work your way up to 220-grit paper.
Gloss and semi-gloss paints go on better with short-nap rollers because this generates fewer bubbles when you're rolling out the paint.
Semigloss is the best paint finish for interior doors and trim. The reason being, semi-gloss can take up quite an abuse and stand up to nicks and scrapes better than any other sheen, flat or eggshell finish. The large surfaces gather dust just like your furniture.
For most interior doors, an indoor latex paint will do the trick. You'll want to use a primer if the existing paint on the door is oil-based or if you're painting a significantly different color over the existing color (for example, white over black or vice versa). Painting wood doors white may require extra coats.
The main reason you get paintbrush marks in the first place is because the paint hasn't flowed out completely before it's dried. What is this? So, the first tip in avoiding paintbrush lines is to buy slow-drying paint. This is usually higher quality paint that is labeled to take up to 24-hours to dry.
After the first coat is dry, lightly sand the entire surface with an ultra fine grit sanding block. Vacuum the dust off and clean the surface with a tack cloth. Paint the second coat of paint on the piece the same as the first. Repeat by sanding between coats of paint.
Typically, two coats should suffice but you may prefer to use more. Drying times vary depending on a range of factors, including: the quality and type of paint or varnish you use; the environment you are painting in and the surface you are painting.
Semi-gloss acrylic latex exterior paint is ideal for front doors. Many homeowners like it for its durability, color compatibility and easy clean-up. It's great for steel, wood and fiberglass doors. Semi-gloss latex enamel exterior paint and primer in one eliminates the need for a primer coat before the finish coat.
Choose paint recommended for interior doors, such as types with a durable gloss or semi gloss sheen that makes it easy to clean. If possible, paint in a well-ventilated area or use a fan to circulate the air. Before painting, clean the door with a degreasing cleaner.