The most common kinds of exterior door paint are acrylic resin or latex-based and with a semi-gloss finish. Latex-based exterior paint is the most flexible type and is quite popular. It fills in larger imperfections on a door's surface and resists cracking and chipping.
Go for a semi-gloss finish, which is as durable as it is attractive. Exterior paints are sold in flat/matte, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and gloss sheens, in order of the lowest to the highest luster. Semi-gloss is ideal for front doors, as it's more wear- and stain-resistant than flatter sheens.
Best Type of Paint for Metal Doors
Use two or more coats of high-quality exterior acrylic-latex paint for painting your metal front door. Glossier paint sheens are easier to clean and last longer. Use semi-gloss or gloss paint for your front door.
Oil-based paints are the most durable.
You'll achieve a more uniform finish if you first apply an oil-based primer (e.g., Rust-Oleum Clean Metal Primer, $8.98 per quart on Amazon). However, you can apply oil paint directly to metal because it contains no water, and therefore there's so no risk of rust.
Latex or acrylic paints are the best for painting aluminum. Choose the ones designed for use on metal. If you're handling an outdoor project like patio furniture, ensure the paint is exterior grade. Tempting as it might be, don't go for high-gloss paints because they will highlight imperfections on the surface.
“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.”
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.
Prime the entire door before painting
Unless the old paint is in perfect condition, you should prime before painting. Primer blocks stains, mutes dark colors and helps new paint stick better. It also seals porous fillers so the topcoat looks smooth and even.
While you can choose any finish, glossy paints are typically preferred for doors and trim, because they stand out and highlight these architectural features. They also tend to stand up to nicks and scrapes better than flat or eggshell paint, meaning they could last longer.
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.
Most paints come in flat (sometimes called matte), satin, semi gloss and high-gloss. For my door I choose semi gloss. I usually prefer flat because I like how it doesn't reflect light. But for a front door semi gloss or high-gloss is a better option because it can be cleaned more easily.
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.
Exposure to the great outdoors leaves your front door dirty, so take a few minutes to wipe it down before painting. Sand the entire door to help the new paint stick well, remembering to sand the edges since you want to give them a fresh coat of paint as well.
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.
Although both matte and eggshell paints are durable, eggshell finishes tend to be the more durable of the two.
Satin: Satin finish paint has a smooth, velvety look with a bit more gloss. It is most often used for windows, doors, trim, or ceilings, but it can also be used as wall paint. This is particularly suitable for kids' room walls, kitchens, or bathrooms, or in areas that get a lot of traffic.
The most obvious difference between semigloss and high-gloss paint is the amount of light they reflect. Glossier paint makes colors look brighter or bolder. It accentuates curves and detail work, and can make trim and doors stand out from their surroundings more effectively.
Note: Don't paint the top or bottom of a door (the narrow parts that aren't visible when the door is closed). Leave them unpainted so the door can expand and contract with changes in humidity.
Can A Door Be Different Colors On Each Side? A variety of colors can be painted on each side of a door. There should be a constant hue across the edges of the door when the door is open. On the edges are painted a color corresponding to their appearance on the interior.
Aluminum is also used for some bi-fold closet and cabinet doors. Although you can paint aluminum with nearly any paint, exterior-grade spray-paint leaves an even, smooth finish without brushstrokes, and it dries faster and bonds better than latex.
When preparing aluminum for paint, it's important to use a self-etching primer. Its special formulation contains chemicals that micro-etch the surface of the aluminum for the best bond possible.
When paint loses its adhesion to surfaces such as aluminum screen doors and galvanized steel gutters, poor paint preparation is almost always to blame. Causes: Inadequate removal of rust.
If your doors and trim are to be painted, many painters prefer the doors be installed. That way all the painting and caulking can be completed at the same time. If you have pre-finished doors and trim, I would recommend installing the doors after the painting is finished.