Paint gives fibreglass doors a solid, flat finish. In fact, many fibreglass doors are manufactured to have a smooth finish – so for these doors, paint makes a lot of sense. Furthermore, some builders believe that painting a fibreglass door – rather than staining it – makes it more durable.
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.
Use a hard topcoat.
Otherwise in hot environments the weatherstripping may stick to softened paint and damage the door. The door's topcoat should be reapplied often — every two years if not exposed to direct sunlight and up to every six months if there is no overhang and a lot of direct sunlight.
Factory Prefinished Fiberglass Door Care & Maintenance Guide
And like any piece of your home's exterior it needs proper care and periodic maintenance to keep it in top condition. Cleaning—To clean your door please use mild soap in warm water and a non-abrasive, clean rag. You will need to let the door air dry.
Fiberglass Exterior Doors
In a reasonably protected location, a fiberglass exterior door will never need painting or staining and can last 15 to 20 years. Although it feels lighter than wood or steel, it is extremely durable and features an extremely durable coating that is difficult to breach.
Fiberglass doors have a much higher resistance to weathering than wood and steel, but exposure to sunlight can fade them, as you have discovered. Depending on the fading, you may be able to patch the stain. Before you paint or stain the surface, clean your door properly.
Fiberglass front doors exposed to strong sunlight should be finished with paint, not stain. Textured front fiberglass doors look better when stained, however, either finish can be used. If your preference is a look of wood rather than fiberglass, staining can be used to accomplish this.
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.
If you kick a fiberglass door, it won't dent or ding. Plus, unlike a steel door it looks exactly like wood, and you can stain it (although it's a little more complex than staining a wood door). Even though fiberglass is a bit more expensive, it was actually more affordable than a new wood door with a storm door added.
Cracks. Cracking is a problem with some low-quality, inexpensive fiberglass doors. The fiberglass is rigid and can crack during cold weather when the material contracts. These cracks may simply damage the door's appearance.
Fiberglass make really quality doors because they don't shrink or swell with the elements or rot or split like a solid wood door can. They are also fairly easy to paint!
You can start by using a primer, although it is not necessary with a fiberglass boat. Be sure that the primer you are using is compatible with the paint you've chosen. After you've applied one layer of primer, you can use a 300-grit sandpaper and lightly sand the boat before applying the next coat.
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.
But the real question is – are they secure? The short answer: yes. Fiberglass doors are secure and a valid option to consider when looking to replace your front entry door.
Use Acetone to Clean Your Door
Before painting your fiberglass door, you need to ensure that it is clean. You may use acetone or paint thinner as the first step when cleaning. In most instances, these options are used when dealing with rather stubborn stains such as oil.
To refinish your door, you need to remove the old paint with a water-based stripper, apply a layer of gel stain, add at least two layers of fiberglass top coat, and allow to completely dry. You may use acrylic over your gel stain, as acrylics are known to have longer lifespan.
Fiberglass Exterior Door Pros:
Durability — In addition to minimal maintenance requirements, fiberglass doors are exceptionally durable. They don't chip or dent like a wood or steel door might, which makes them a great option for your front door — your barrier between your home and the outside world.
If you have a drab fiberglass door in your living room, give it a quick, inexpensive facelift. Clean the door to remove grease and dirt. Apply a base coat using either paint or stain. Then use a quality gel stain and a wood-graining tool to create faux wood grain in the door.
Sand the entire door with coarse, medium, and fine sandpaper. Completely wipe down the door with a damp cloth to remove any dust, and allow the door to completely dry before continuing.
Fiberglass doors work well in almost any climate, even extreme cold and damp conditions. Unlike wood, fiberglass doors do not warp, crack, or rot. And unlike steel, the doors don't rust, scratch, or corrode. Fiberglass is built to last and will not require yearly re-finishing to stay in top shape.
Yes, fiberglass doors can dent or scratch if someone really tried. But compared to wooden doors or steel doors, they're much more resistant to things that make doors look old.
Although wooden doors are durable, they're susceptible to damage from prolonged exposure to sun, rain, snow, humidity, and other elements. Fiberglass resists the effects of harsh weather and lasts longer, without the rotting, splitting, peeling, or delaminating that occurs in wood.