Your front door – the size, color, and design – communicates a lot. So having a paint job that looks good and withstands the elements is vital.
The best paints for front doors are high-quality exterior brands that resist fading, chipping, and long-term damage. However, the door’s material – wood, metal, or vinyl – should determine whether you go with oil-based or water-based paints.
We’ll explore your options in this article.
Why Door Paint Matters
Your front door is more than a gateway to your home; it’s also a barrier against the elements. It takes a lot of abuse from sun, rain, and snow and endures everyday wear and tear, pets, and an occasional bump or kick.
So a good paint protects your door against sun damage, moisture, and mildew and prevents fading, cracking, and warping. It also enhances curb appeal, makes cleaning easier, and hides imperfections. Beyond protection, the right color and finish sets the tone for your home’s style.
Essential qualities to look for in a door paint:
- Coverage
- Prep needed
- Durability
- Ease of application
- Color and finish
Best Paint for Each Door Material
All front doors aren’t the same, and the type of door material determines the best paint for protection and durability. Whether your door is made of fiberglass, wood, or metal, choosing the right paint will ensure it withstands wear, weather, and time while retaining its appearance.
Here’s a chart of what paint works best for different door materials:
| Door Material | Recommended Paint |
| Wood (Non-Bleeding) | Water-based exterior paint |
| Wood (Bleeding) | Oil-based exterior paint |
| Metal | Oil-based paint |
| Fiberglass | Water-based paint |
Wood
Wood front doors can be divided into two categories – bleeding woods like redwood, cypress, and cedar and non-bleeding woods such as pine and white fir. Wooden doors also expand and contract with temperature changes, so you’ll need a flexible paint that won’t crack or peel.
For non-bleeding woods: Use water-based exterior paint for faster drying and easier clean-up.
For bleeding woods: Bleeding woods release compounds known as tannins or resins that can seep through and cause yellowish-brown stains, especially when coated with water-based paint. To avoid this, oil-based exterior paints are a better choice for woods that bleed, as they resist discoloration.
Metal
Metal doors are prone to rust and aren’t porous, so they don’t absorb paint like wooden doors. Oil-based exterior paint is best for them, as it prevents rust, resists corrosion, and will not fade or bubble from sun exposure. If your door doesn’t get direct sunlight, you can also use exterior acrylic latex paints, they’re easier to apply and resist rust.
Use a direct-to-metal paint or a metal primer if there are bare areas on the door or if the entire door is bare metal.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass doors don’t expand or contract like wooden doors but need paint that bonds well to the non-porous surface. Your best choice is a water-based paint, particularly latex-acrylic paint. This paint is thinner and less sticky than oil-based paint and will go onto the fiberglass more easily.
Choose a paint that has the same resin as the door. For example, use an epoxy-based paint if the fiberglass is an epoxy resin.
Water-Based vs Oil-Based Paints: Which is Better
Water-Based Paints
Water-based paints, including acrylics and latex, dry quickly (faster than 1-6 hours sometimes), resist mildew, are easy to apply, and do not smell as strongly as oil-based paints.
Acrylic resin paint is more durable, resistant to sun fading, long-lasting, and flexible enough to prevent cracking. Latex-based paint is ideal for hiding imperfections but is slightly less durable than acrylic paint.
Best for: Wood and fiberglass doors.
Oil-Based Paints
These paints take longer to apply and dry, and have a stronger odor but are very durable. They offer excellent resistance to wear and weather, especially in humid conditions. Oil-based paints work great for heavily used doors and are less prone to chipping.
Best for: Metal and wood doors.
Recommended Paint Finishes
Semi-gloss sheens are the go-to for front doors. Exterior paint finishes include options like matte, high-gloss, and satin. Matte paint is not easy to keep clean, so it is not a good choice for frequently used surfaces or surfaces exposed to outdoor elements. High-gloss paint is easy to clean but imperfections in the paint job stand out because of the higher sheen level.
Semi-gloss and satin finishes are the best options for front doors but satin is not as durable as semi-gloss. Here’s why semi-gloss is the better choice:
- It has a higher sheen level than satin, making it more durable; it resists the wear and tear of daily use, like scratches and scuffs.
- It’s easier to clean because it is more dirt and grime-resistant.
- It has an attractive shine.
Need Help?
Your front door is one of the first things people see when they look at your home, so you want the finish to be attractive and also durable enough to withstand the elements. Home Gnome connects you with professionals who can not only help you choose the best paint type for your home but also ensure you get the smoothest-looking application.
Home Gnome delivers the best home service experience at the click of a button. Book reliable, skilled handymen and handywomen in seconds and leave the rest to us.
Main Image Credit: ungvar / Adobe Stock Free / License
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