**Our honesty policy: This post may contain affiliate links and I may be compensated if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you. Some are, some aren't--I do some comparison shopping. The important thing is you will know exactly what we are talking about. Ping me if you have any questions on the products as these are materials and tools we use on our own projects.
The end result of priming this fiberglass front door with two coats of Kilz 2 Primer and Floetrol.
Let's be honest. Who primes a fiberglass door? Someone who cares–like you.
I'm putting this right out there because, with my vast experience (aka my own fiberglass front door with two layers of unprimed paint), many do not prime before painting. Put lipstick on a pig and move on.
But you and I do not do that. 1 out of 3 does not make us part of the majority, but one door at a time, right? *Although it should probably should be 2 out of 4 since I'm including you–still not a majority…yet.
Fill a clean paint tray with your paint. Use the brush to paint the trim on a recessed panel first, then use the roller to finish the panel. When all the recessed panels have been painted, finish the door with the roller. Give the paint many hours to dry before flipping the door over and painting the other side. Best Weather to Paint Outside. In order for your paint job to turn out perfectly, the weather needs to cooperate. This is because how the paint dries is directly related to the temperature and conditions at the time of application. Ideally, you want to choose a time that gives you warm, dry days.
Let's get started!
Tools and materials used for priming this fiberglass exterior door:
A brand new disposable paint tray–you'll see why below–or skip that and just use a paint can screen
Boom! All the tools and materials needed to prime this (now finished) fiberglass front door.
Before jumping straight to the finer points priming a fiberglass exterior door, there are a few points to consider if you are working with a pre-loved door.
Are you trying to refinish an old door and the paint is in bad shape? If so, you are going to have to remove the old paint otherwise you might have a great paint job, but it's going to look terrible and won't last long on top of the failing paint below. Tip #2 in this post: 10 Unusual Tips on Repainting a Front Door
Also, this post will come in handy: Stripping Paint Off a Fiberglass Door
At this point, having stripped old paint off the door you may or may not have many of the original wood grain divots. Many may still be filled in, depending on the last coat(s) of paint. If wood grain matters to you, a new door may be a better option.
Tip #1. Decide on what kind of finish you want.
If you hate looking at brush strokes, use a paint sprayer. If you don't have one, buy, borrow or rent one.
This is one of those splurges that could be worth it. If you don't and you are left with paint brush marks, you know you are going to regret it when you see it EVERY DAY when you get home.
What you should not do if you detest paint brush marks:
- Use a paint roller (nap or sponge), sponge brush.
- No paint brushes!
If you like brush strokes (or don't care that much), go for it!
I'm still thrilled with how amazing the finish of the Alfred DB2 plays off the white brush strokes. It's like it was meant to be!
Suddenly, curious about that lock? Check out the full write up here: The HOTTEST Smart Lock in 2020: Alfred DB2 Review
Tip #2. Take the door off and lay it flat.
This is one step you don't want to do in place, no matter how small of a time box you have.
The probability of a drip goes up 1000000% when a door is left vertical. So does paint buildup in the corners.
Just don't.
Grab a friend and pop those pins out. The nice thing about a fiberglass door is it is lightweight.
Tip #3. Clean off the door one last time before priming.
Grab a container of denatured alcohol and give the door one last scrub. This will remove any last dust, dirt and fingerprints added between stripping the door and moving it to the place where you'll be painting it.
No fingerprints allowed between the primer and the door!
Another positive property of denatured alcohol is it is…wait for it…alcohol! It dries quickly!!! You can see it in action here in the timelapse in this video at 10:45:
Tip #4: Tape off the edges of the door where the paint should stop.
A straight edge where one color stops and another begins looks professional.
Painters tape is your friend leaving a clean line with no sticky residue.
Video at:
Tip #5: MOVE FAST!
- Go to the bathroom.
- Drink an extra shot of espresso or down a Rockstar energy drink.
- Put on energy98.
Do whatever it takes to move fast, stay focused and uninterrupted.
Once primer hits the clock is ticking. Primer dries quickly. You have to move fast to keep brush strokes from going the wrong direction and catching drips.
Also, with regard to stripping off the paint–you know you've already spent SO MUCH TIME having removed the old paint. You don't want all your hard work to go to waste!
Tip #6: Floetrol.
Floetrol is so awesome it gets it's own bullet point! Floetrol is also worthy of lots of exclamation points!!!!
Floetrol is an additive you use at both the primer and color coat steps. Flotrol changes the consistency of the paint to a smoother and oil feel. This causes the brush strokes in the paint to flow together and give you a smooth finish look.
Many contractors use water to thin the paint, but this only makes for a thinner coat that will deteriorate faster over time. While Floetrol thins the paint, it doesn't take away from the solids in the primer and paint. It is a better bonding agent.
I had previously used the Floetrol in both the primer and white Alkyd to cover the roughsawn plywood siding we are installing to recover failing drywall under the entrance of our home. The end result was nothing short of flawless. I will admit I am disappointed it will be so far out of eyesight and reach because it is so nice to see and touch.
We wanted the same, high quality, brushless look on the fiberglass front door too. While we have paint sprayers, both handheld and the large upright kind, they are over 1,000 miles away. Literally. But we thought for sure, we could still get the finish we wanted.
Our workaround (although we'd still use it if we had the paint sprayer) is Floetrol. Floetrol, a ⅜' roller knap and sponge brush worked GREAT for the roughsawn plywood.
⅜' knap roller on the roughsawn plywood.
This is one step you don't want to do in place, no matter how small of a time box you have.
The probability of a drip goes up 1000000% when a door is left vertical. So does paint buildup in the corners.
Just don't.
Grab a friend and pop those pins out. The nice thing about a fiberglass door is it is lightweight.
Tip #3. Clean off the door one last time before priming.
Grab a container of denatured alcohol and give the door one last scrub. This will remove any last dust, dirt and fingerprints added between stripping the door and moving it to the place where you'll be painting it.
No fingerprints allowed between the primer and the door!
Another positive property of denatured alcohol is it is…wait for it…alcohol! It dries quickly!!! You can see it in action here in the timelapse in this video at 10:45:
Tip #4: Tape off the edges of the door where the paint should stop.
A straight edge where one color stops and another begins looks professional.
Painters tape is your friend leaving a clean line with no sticky residue.
Video at:
Tip #5: MOVE FAST!
- Go to the bathroom.
- Drink an extra shot of espresso or down a Rockstar energy drink.
- Put on energy98.
Do whatever it takes to move fast, stay focused and uninterrupted.
Once primer hits the clock is ticking. Primer dries quickly. You have to move fast to keep brush strokes from going the wrong direction and catching drips.
Also, with regard to stripping off the paint–you know you've already spent SO MUCH TIME having removed the old paint. You don't want all your hard work to go to waste!
Tip #6: Floetrol.
Floetrol is so awesome it gets it's own bullet point! Floetrol is also worthy of lots of exclamation points!!!!
Floetrol is an additive you use at both the primer and color coat steps. Flotrol changes the consistency of the paint to a smoother and oil feel. This causes the brush strokes in the paint to flow together and give you a smooth finish look.
Many contractors use water to thin the paint, but this only makes for a thinner coat that will deteriorate faster over time. While Floetrol thins the paint, it doesn't take away from the solids in the primer and paint. It is a better bonding agent.
I had previously used the Floetrol in both the primer and white Alkyd to cover the roughsawn plywood siding we are installing to recover failing drywall under the entrance of our home. The end result was nothing short of flawless. I will admit I am disappointed it will be so far out of eyesight and reach because it is so nice to see and touch.
We wanted the same, high quality, brushless look on the fiberglass front door too. While we have paint sprayers, both handheld and the large upright kind, they are over 1,000 miles away. Literally. But we thought for sure, we could still get the finish we wanted.
Our workaround (although we'd still use it if we had the paint sprayer) is Floetrol. Floetrol, a ⅜' roller knap and sponge brush worked GREAT for the roughsawn plywood.
⅜' knap roller on the roughsawn plywood.
So it would work on the fiberglass door, right?
WRONG!
It.
Looked.
Terrible.
It looked like I was painting on carpet!
Said carpet.
I was horrified. As I stated above, all I could think about was the four afternoons I spent on stripping the old paint, just to replace it with a terrible paint job.
Disappointment was setting in as I knew the primer was already drying the moment I put it on. Thankfully, my husband grabbed a few brushes and jumped in to help.
The other issue is one of our 'helpers' had picked at the paint tray. Little flecks of old paint were making their presence known. There is a reason for using a NEW disposable paint tray every time…
Stressed, and upset are two other words you can add to describe this point in the process.
This was an awful time, but I couldn't see myself stopping in the middle. So I continued on and consoled myself by thinking at least the door was a nice, bright white.
Obvious at minute 7:09 in the video bloopers:
I applied two coats.
After it dried, I was THRILLED. All the brush marks were minimal.
I also noted the door did not have the chalky primer feel. I can't wait to see what the thicker color coat is going to look like with the Flotrol.
If you've never heard of Floetrol, you can check it out for pricing/reviews here.
Tip #7: Use a high density foam roller to apply the primer.
In retrospect, I should have used a high density foam roller instead of a knap roller. Both apply the paint evenly. Much more evenly than a paint brush which is prone to thick and thin patches.
A high density foam roller looks like berber carpet compared to a knap roller's 70's shag.
**Spoiler alert**
The color coat went on soooooo nice!
Tip #8: Attention to detail!
You may have sanding and two more layers of color coat to go, but those next steps won't cover brush marks going the wrong direction.
It is much harder to hide drips and buildup when the paint has dried.
Like when you repaint all your interior doors over a bad paint job (from past owners). Hey, at least it is now bright and white (and admittedly, our paint spraying skills have much improved since then too)!
Proof, it was not me–the red Milwaukee paint sprayer is in the foreground. Memories from 9 years ago…
Looking a second time before stepping away is a good idea too.
Tip #9: Use a razor blade when needed.
I can't stand looking at brush strokes going the wrong direction (aka, when I don't perfectly match the direction of the wood grain). Because of this there were a few brush strokes I refused to leave behind.
Keeping my paint transitions straight with a razor blade.
When the paint is already dried in place and you are still working on the area–attempting to get it going in the correct direction–a little heavy handed intervention can be a good thing.
While a razor blade is on the extreme end, that's what I had on hand so I used it.
Definitely don't wield it with a lot of muscle. The whole point of this is to preserve the door, not make more lines. I mostly dragged the blade backwards so I would not dig into the fiberglass. Mostly.
Here is the end result of that spot after two layers of primer.
Using a razor blade is only an option for the first coat. After that you'll need to catch errors when the paint is wet. This is where wearing gloves (Tip #10) comes in handy. A gloved fingernail is also a nice 'tool' that allows you to remove the errant paint while not digging into the layer below.
Tip #10: Pull your hair out of the way.
I always forget this step and have some bit of primer at the very ends.
A quick ponytail or bun will keep your long locks out of the difficult-to-remove primer.
If you watched the video already, did you notice how my hair went from a ponytail to a bun?
Tip #11: Prevent clean up.
Similar to tip #10, prevention is easier than cleaning.
Drop cloths / builder paper / plastic lining are a good idea if you are concerned about the look of the floor space after your paint job is complete.
Wear gloves to prevent days of primer on dry hands.
Winter and I don't agree–my hands are almost as white as the primer from being sooooo dry!
FAQ for Priming a Exterior Door:
Q: Do you need to prime your door before the color coat?
A: Yes! Two coats of primer is necessary to create a continuous layer without any holidays (spots that inevitably appear on each layer caused by bubbles, an uneven spot, etc. Two layers guarantee a solid bonding coat.
Q: What if the exterior door is already pre-primed?
A: Still yes! At least one layer is necessary to adhere the color coat properly.
Q: Do I really need to prime? 'I'm asking for a friend…'
A: See previous answers…YES! Primer is the bonding element between the door and paint. Primer will also protect the door beneath and help the color coat last longer. Please send them this post or, in the least, advise them to spend a little extra time on their project to prime.
While it was satisfying to strip the old layers of paint (none of which had a single layer of primer), it still took multiple afternoons. I don't want to do this again anytime soon. Primer will help ensure my paint job lasts longer than the two layers I discovered–combined!*
*In fairness (or perhaps, not in fairness, but it was just done wrong), I'd almost bet there was only one layer of latex paint and the oil based paint below might have only been one layer too, with no primer. I'm feeling pretty confident my paint job will last longer than maybe even the two layers AND the factory finish. I've lived in the house for 11 years. I'll give an update in 11 years. Or less if it turns out otherwise.
Thanks for stopping by and thanks for caring about your door. And caring about how the finished product will look and last! I sincerely hope your project goes smooth and lasts a VERY long time.
Related posts:
Why Every Smart Lock Needs a Gasket!!! <– Spoiler alert: because you don't want it digging into your newly primed (and painted) door!
Related videos:
And of course, it is obvious I made a primer video:
Finding the best exterior paint isn't always an easy proposition. That's because while there's a variety of high-quality paints on the market, the needs of every homeowner varies from individual to individual. People need paints in different colors, some people need it with a primer and some without, and some people need a solvent-based paint and others may need a water-based paint. There are just too many variables to consider.
Keeping that in mind, I've decided to go ahead and show you my list of the best exterior paint brands currently available. While they're in a variety of different colors and styles, I think this is a good exterior paint roundup to get the average homeowner started on finding a paint for their home. All of these are good paints, and I'm started with number ten and working towards the number one paint.
10. Valspar Latex Barn & Fence Paint 5-Gallon Red
This latex paint is a good choice for not only painting barns but painting sheds or even some houses. In fact, it can be used for a variety of different exterior surfaces including aluminum siding, wood, masonry and weathered steel. It goes on nice and smoothly and dries to a durable finish. It is also weather resistant and fade-resistant, so it protects the surface it is covering. While red is a color not many people think of when they are painting the outside of their home, this paint dries to a nice tint and provides a professional looking surface that would make any homeowner proud.
9. Diamond Brite Paint Oil-Based All Purpose Enamel White
Although this all-purpose paint can be used for both interior and exterior surfaces, it really excels when used as an outdoor paint. When applied, it provides a high-quality and very durable surface that's designed to resist peeling, scuffs, cracking and even fading. Users can roll it on, use a brush to apply it or spray it on. This makes it an ideal paint for not only using on wood but also a number of other surfaces include metal, plaster, concrete, and hardboard. It is available in a variety of different colors, from white to black and is a good paint to use on the outside of a home, for a garage or for tool sheds.
What Is The Best Brush To Paint A Door
8. Sikkens Cetol 23 Plus 1 Gallon Natura
Painters, homeowners, and individuals who want an exterior stain that provides a premium translucent topcoat may want to take a look at this product. It's ideal for placing on log homes, siding or trim, garage doors or even entrance doors. In essence, any outdoor wood surface. While it's highly transparent, it does provide a high-quality level of UV sun protection and is not only weather resistant but also water repellent. And although some people complain about its smell and it's price, this paint is a high-quality product that will provide the quality coverage needed.
7. Anvil 1500-Series Acrylic Interior/Exterior Concrete Stain Brick Red 1 Gallon
One of the remarkable features of this exterior stain is that it is as easy to clean up as a water-based paint but is as durable as a urethane stain. When it's applied to a surface which is prepared properly, this stain will provide a solid color satin finish that can then be sealed with a high-quality sealer. This stain is ideal for applying to unpainted concrete, garage doors, walkways, pool decks and even sidewalks. This in-flammable stain's color penetrates deeply into concrete and is resistant to the effects of hot tires.
6. Prestige Greens & Aquas Ultra Premium Paint and Primer
Available in one of a wide variety of different colors which go by eccentric names such as Storm's End, Grape Leaves or Deepest Evergreen, this product is both a premium paint and a primer all in one product. It not only goes on very smoothly but has a high-hide ability and covers surfaces very well. This 100% acrylic latex paint also has a low VOC, provides a mildew-resistant coating that is not only durable and washable and is easily cleaned up with soap and water. This all makes it an ideal product for just about any exterior surface.
5. Prestige Browns & Oranges Semi-Gloss 1-Gallon
This ultra-premium semi-gloss paint also has a primer built into it so that it's easy-to-use. It goes right on really smoothly and is a high-hide formula that can cover up minor imperfections in the surface it's covering. This product has a low VOC and is easy to clean up with soap and water. This product also comes in a number of different colors which include colors such as Owl Face, Spiced Cinnamon, and Indian Summer. This product is ideal for a variety of exterior surfaces including the outside of houses, garages, sheds or any other place where a quality long-lasting color is needed.
4. True Value HPX9-QT Premium Acrylic House Paint 1-Quart
This house paint is designed for homeowners who need a high-quality paint that not only looks good and provides good coverage but will also stand up to the elements. This fade-resistant paint is resistant to both mold and mildew and has high-hide capabilities, which allows it to cover minor imperfections in the painted surface. This paint comes in a 1-quart can, just enough for doing touch-ups on trim or around gutters but not big enough for covering significant portions of an exterior surface. This makes it a good paint for a number of different projects.
3. KILZ Siding, Fence & Barn Paint White 1-Gallon
With a coverage of approximately 200-square feet to 500-square feet a gallon, this brand of paint is more than significant for covering a variety of exterior surfaces including siding, fencing, and barns. It covers smoothly and once applied it dries within about 3-hours and once dry provides a mildew-resistant coating. This paint also resists blistering, cracking and peeling and holds up well to the elements. It's a good paint to be used for outside painting applications and provides a coating that's not only durable but also looks good as well.
2. Valspar White Latex Field Marking Paint 44-655P 5 Gallons
This paint is designed specifically for use on athletic fields to mark them and can be used on not only concrete but also natural grass, clay or turf. This product can be thinned 1:1 with water or can be tinted to another color using three ounces of universal colorant per gallon. Designed to be used by professional painters, this paint can be used for a variety of industrial, institutional, commercial and residential applications. And since it comes in a big 5-gallon container, it has enough coverage to handle a variety of large jobs.
1. Rust-Oleum 3131 Mildew-Proof Paint
This paint has a number of characteristics which make it great for painting exterior surfaces. It's a high-hiding paint that can stick to all surfaces and is self-priming. It's designed to withstand the elements and to protect the surface painted from mildew, which makes it ideal for wet environments. It also is a water-based formula that can be easily applied with a sprayer, a roller or a brush and doesn't have a strong odor like comparable paints do. This product is made from a trusted manufacturer of paints and is manufactured in the U.S.
Exterior Paints Guide
It can cost thousands of dollars to have a professional painter come out an paint your home. That's why more and more people are painting the exterior of the home themselves. For a mere fraction of the price tag of hiring a professional painter to do the job, a person can have a beautifully painted house and can relish the satisfaction they receive from doing it themselves. There's simply no finer feeling than painting your own home and then stepping back and admiring the job you've just finished.
Of course, before you can undertake the process of painting your own home, you not only need the proper supplies but you need the proper exterior paint. These paints come in a variety of different styles and brands, so it's important to choose the one that suits your home the best. If you're not exactly sure what that entails, then you've come to the right place, because we do have the information that you need. In the following guide, we'll what to consider when buying an exterior paint and then we'll explore some helpful tips that will enable you to use that very paint to get the best results possible.
The Types Of Exterior Paints
Before we begin, it's important to know that exterior paints come in one of three different styles. There are Acrylic Latex Paints, Oil-Based Paints, and Exterior Stains. Each of these different types has its pros and cons that have to be considered before they're used. Let's examine each type in detail and see what each type of job each is suited to doing.
Acrylic Latex Paints
These paints are some of the easiest to work with and produce a very nice result. They're also extremely to easy up using just soap and water. After these paints dry, they don't stiffen up like other sorts of paint do, so they're able to 'breathe' with each change in season. This allows them to weather the heat of summer and the cold of winter without cracking. These paints have also been known to not crack while houses are settling. And because they're a relatively flexible type of paint, then they can be used on a variety of surfaces including aluminum, brick, metal, wood and even vinyl.
However, they're not without their drawbacks. Most of them produce annoying fumes caused by VOCs, otherwise known as Volatile Organic Compounds. These chemicals not only contribute to air pollution but are toxic to animals and birds in high concentrations. Another problem that can be found with acrylic latex paint is that it won't bond with previous coats of paint. That means that the homeowner is going to have to remove all of the old paint off of the home and start with a completely clean surface.
Best Brush For Exterior Painting
Oil-Based Exterior Paints
Once upon a time, oil-based paints were the type of exterior paint that most people would use for their home. However, that has changed quite a bit over the past few years as more and more people have begun to use latex exterior paints. Although latex paints are more popular than oil-based, it doesn't mean that these types of paints don't have their benefits. And one of the main benefits of using them is they becoming extremely hard when they dry and will continue to keep on hardening as time passes. This makes them a good paint for using on areas of the home that get a lot of use or traffic. Many people use oil-based paints to paint their porches, handrails, steps or other surfaces that have to withstand heavy use.
Unfortunately, oil-based paints also have their drawbacks. Since oil-based paints can only harden so much before they become brittle, over time they develop a cracked, weathered look to them that's very unappealing. And oil-based paints won't bond well with latex ones, so it may be necessary to completely strip the surface. However, most of the time it's okay to put oil-based paint over an older coat of oil-based paint without suffering any problems whatsoever.
Exterior Stains
When a home has an exterior that's adorned with beautiful types of wood, people naturally don't want to cover it up with a paint–regardless of whether it's acrylic or oil-based paint. In those instances, painters often use a stain to paint the exterior of the home. Exterior stains are great for painting woods such as rosewood, redwood, and cedar, and they help to preserve the unique grain of these woods all while protecting them from weathering. Although stains aren't as protective as paint, they will still protect the wood against rot and moisture.
However, it should be noted that UV light from the sun will still pass through the stain and that will cause the wood to discolor. Some stain manufacturers hope to inhibit this process by adding a UV blocker to their paints, which they'll indicate that they have added to the stain right on the label.
Best Paint Brush For Exterior Doors
Most exterior stains come in one of three different finishes: Clear Coat, Semi-Transparent and Opaque. As is the case with other types of paint, each of these finishes have their unique benefits. For example, clear stains allow the full grain of the wood to show throw, but they only last about 3-years before they need to be reapplied. Semi-transparent stains slight color the wood but still allows the grain patterns to show through. As a result, they last longer than clear coat paints and only need to be reapplied approximately every 5 years or so. Opaque stains are formulated like paint, so they fully cover the color of the wood, but the grain can still be seen through it. Because it's thicker, it will protect the wood better and will only need to be reapplied once a decade.
Exterior Painting Tips
Okay, now that we've finished describing what type of paint should be purchased, it's time to follow up with some tips for getting good results with that exterior paint. Below are a few suggestions that should help the painting process go faster, make cleanup easier, and ensure a better-looking outcome.
- Wash The Home's Exterior
- Remove Loose Paint
- Sand Remaining Rough Areas
- Repair Any Structural Damage
- Apply A Suitable Primer
- Caulk Joints
- Apply A Good Base Coats
- Apply Additional Coats As Necessary
- Repaint The Exterior As Needed
If you follow all of the above suggestions and take your time painting the exterior of your home, then your home can easily become the envy of the neighborhood. And all it took was the best exterior paint, a little bit of patience and a whole lot of elbow grease.
