She-I-Y: How to Paint a Front Door

Ring’s End is excited to present our new She-I-Y video series, in which resident paint expert Tasha will teach you practical and fun DIYs! This first installment covers how to paint a front door.

Front Door Painting Supply List

Ring's End makes shopping for this She-I-Y project easy with the DIY Front Door Kit. This kit comes with the following:

  • Benjamin Moore Fresh Start Exterior Wood Primer, 1 Quart

  • Chip Brush, 3"

  • Premier Brooklyn CT Poly 2-1/2" Angle Sash

  • Whizz 4" x 3/8" Nap MicroFiber Roller Cover with 13" Soft Touch Handle

  • 6" Heavy Duty Plastic Tray

  • Blue Dolphin 2" Blue Tape

  • Tack Cloth 18" X 36"

  • Norton ProSand, 3 Pack Sanding Sheets, 9" x 11", 120 Grit, Fine

  • Makita 1/4 Sheet Finishing Sander, with Tool Case

You can adjust the item quantities in the kit to meet your needs and simply add them all at once to your cart. Next, you'll want to choose Benjamin Moore ADVANCE Paint in your favorite color and add a quart to your cart. Keep reading if you need help choosing a paint color!

How to Paint a Front Door

First, you’ll want to use a palm sander to gently sand the surface of your door and use a tack cloth to wipe off any sawdust. After the door is sanded and clean, use painter’s tape to protect the perimeter of the door as well as any hardware. For fiberglass entry doors, use INSL-X Stix Waterborne Bonding Primer and for wood or steel doors, apply Benjamin Moore Fresh Start Exterior Wood Primer to prime the door. Waterborne primers take 3-4 hours to dry and an oil primer can take 4-6 hours to dry, so you may want to consider prepping and priming one day and painting the next. Primer can be applied with a roller and you can use a latex brush for any details or hard to reach places.

Once the primer is dry, you’ll again want to sand the surface and clean it well with a tack cloth. With a new roller and/or brush, apply your topcoat in smooth, even strokes. We suggest using Benjamin Moore ADVANCE Waterborne Alkyd Paint in High Gloss. ADVANCE paint has a hard, durable finish, minimal yellowing over time, and a low VOC count. Dry time with ADVANCE paint is 4-6 hours, but you must wait 16 hours to recoat. After you’re satisfied with your paint job, remove the painter’s tape and enjoy! Unlike oil paints, which can take weeks to cure, ADVANCE fully cures in only 5 days.

For more in-depth instructions on how to paint your front door, check out our article How To Paint Your Front Door Like A Pro

Choosing a Color for Your Front Door

Door in Benjamin Moore Cool Blue

Benjamin Moore offers Benjamin Moore paint in thousands of colors in store and online, and choosing the right shade for your front door can be a daunting task. Before getting too overwhelmed, check out our article, How To Choose A Front Door Color For Instant Curb AppealWe also encourage you to visit one of our Paint & Design Showrooms, all of which have talented, full-time designers who offer complimentary in-store color consultations. Visit a paint store near you to get started today!

Keep an eye out for the next She-I-Y video, featuring expert instruction on how to repaint furniture. Comment below with a project you'd like to see Tasha cover in the future!