How to paint a front door without removing it – the easy way to refresh your home's entrance

As the first thing we (and others) see when we enter our homes, our front doors should be a point of pride. So if yours has been looking dated and a little lacklustre recently, learning how to paint a front door is a great skill to add to your arsenal.

And the best part is, you can learn how to paint a front door without removing it, making your favourite front door ideas a reality all the easier. All you need to do is decide on the right front door colour, grab your paintbrush and a few other supplies, and start painting once the sun is shining.

'Now is the perfect time to upgrade your outside area and your front door is a great place to start,' says Pam Gruhn, founder of Frenchic Paint. 'It can give your home such a ‘lift’ and is of course much cheaper than buying a new front door!'

And knowing you can learn how to paint a front door without having to remove it first means there's no excuse not to freshen up your door in time for summer. We've asked the experts to share all their tips on how to get the job done, whether your door is made from PVC, UVC, wood or composite material.

How to paint a front door without removing it

Follow the steps in our essential guide to learn how to paint a front door so you end up with a seamless application that will last for years to come and avoid any front door colour mistakes.

First, we asked the experts to clarify whether or not it's possible to paint a front door without removing it.

Can you paint a front door without removing it?

'It is entirely possible to paint a front door without removing it,' say the interior design specialists at CGC Interiors. 'The only real issue you may face is bad weather. If it begins to rain while the paint is still wet, it will get washed away.'

So that you don't run into this issue when painting your front door, wait for a bright sunny spell before you make a start. That way you don't have to take the door off its hinges and paint it inside, which instantly makes the job feel more daunting.

What you'll need

• Flat scraper like this one from Amazon
• Filling knife like this one at Amazon
• Sandpaper, this Amazon set of sandpaper sheets includes different levels of coarseness
• Exterior multipurpose filler like this Ronseal wood filler at B&Q
• Paint brushes like this Harris brush set at Amazon
• Painter's tape, such as Frog Tape available at Amazon
• Exterior paint - our current favourite is the Wise Old Sage Al Fresco Paint from Frenchic
• 40mm or 50mm brush like this Silverline brush style from Amazon

Step-by-step

1. Check the weather forecast

'For any exterior painting jobs, you need a dry day of at least 10 degrees or above to ensure that the paint can properly dry', says Olivia Hunter, DIY specialist at Wallpaper It. 'However, hot weather can be similarly problematic, causing the paint to dry too quickly. Springtime offers the most opportune temperatures, so look to add this job to your DIY tasklist for May or June.'

Though now is the ideal time to learn how to paint a front door without removing it, a rainy day could be just around the corner, so check the forecast and give yourself at least 2 days without rain to get the job done.

2. Test out your chosen colour

Before you commit to repainting your door, make sure you're happy with the shade you've chosen and that it matches with your front door ideas vision. The best way to visualise a colour and test it out is to paint it onto a piece of lining paper or the back of old wallpaper. This will allow you to hold it up against the exterior walls and existing door colour to see the contrast.

3. Remove any hardware

Unscrew any handles, letterboxes etc., before sanding and prepping the door's surface, as you don't want to scratch any hardware. Alternatively, you can use painter's tape to protect your handle and letterbox without removing them.

4. Prepare the surface

Before applying a fresh lick of paint to your front door, you need to remove any old and flaky paint first. 'Not only will this help your exterior paint go on more smoothly, but it will also texturise the surface of the door, which allows the new coat of paint to hold faster,' Olivia explains.

Use a flat scraper to dislodge the old paint. With wooden doors use an exterior multipurpose filler to fill any cracks or holes on the door’s surface. Once dry, sand the whole surface of the door with medium-grade sandpaper, then repeat with fine sandpaper.

5. Give the door a good clean

Make sure you clean down the door to remove any dirt and dust before you apply any paint, because these will stick to the paint and dry to the door – causing an uneven surface. To give the door a good all-over wash sugar soap solution is best for the job. You can buy this at all good DIY retailers.

6. Paint the door

Paint the first coat, focussing on any raised door panels first, and then paint the rest of the door. If you are using Frenchic paint, leave for two hours then paint the second coat.

'Be careful with the door for 2-3 weeks for obvious reasons,' says Pam from Frenchic. 'But you won't need varnish or sealant.'

7. Remove tape or reattach fixtures

If you taped your door hardware make sure to remove this while the paint is still wet. Or, if you removed the fixtures then screw these back on when your door has fully dried. You can learn how to fit a door handle easily, so it shouldn't be a long job.

And that's it! You've successfully learnt how to paint a front door without removing it, and you can tick this DIY job off your to do list.

FAQs

Do I need to remove old paint before painting front door?

To learn how to paint a front door properly, removing the old paint first is an essential step. Painting over old paint will not give you the best results, and you'll end up with a rough, uneven finish.

'Removing the old paint will help the paint stick better and will give it a smoother overall look,' say the experts at CGC Interiors. 'If the existing layers of paint have cracks, bubbles or have begun to peel then painting right over them will only enhance these defects. Painting over old paint can actually make your door look worse and ruin your vision of the space.'

Do I need to sand front door before painting?

Sanding the front door before painting it is another step the experts recommend for a seamless finish.

'This adds texture which allows the paint to grip onto the surface and last as long as possible,' explains Anna Elkington, interior design expert at Melody Maison. 'Without sanding, the paint may not adhere whatsoever which can be a waste of time and resources. In addition, sanding is crucial for removing uneven textures so it is important if you want to achieve a professional and smooth finish.'

Anna recommends using sandpaper and a sand block to sand down your door, then using a damp cloth to remove any dust or dirt before you begin painting.

What's the best paint for a front door?

'To create a striking front door with a colour that lasts, you'll need an exterior paint that has a UV-resistant formula and provides protection against cracking, flaking and peeling,' recommends Sue Kim, senior colour designer at Valspar.

As we've mentioned previously, the Frenchic Al Fresco range works on all materials; PVC, UVC, wooden and composite exterior doors, with no need for a primer. We also love Little Greene's Intelligent Exterior Eggshell and Dulux Weathershield Quick Dry Exterior Paint to do the job.

Will you be painting your front door using this handy guide?