How to Paint a Fiberglass Front Door

Painting a fiberglass front door requires a better quality paint than painting a wood door. Fiberglass doors do not absorb moisture like wood doors. The paint will only stick to the surface. Wood doors will absorb some paint into the surface layer. If the fiberglass door is not properly painted, the paint will easily peel off.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Rags
• Drop cloth
• 2" Angled paint brush
• Paint pot
• Stir stick
• 1 qt. Oil-based paint
• Paint thinner
• 4" Foam roller pad
• 4" Roller frame
• Paint tray

1. Place a drop cloth underneath the bottom of the door. Make sure that the drop cloth is not touching any part of the surface that will be painted. Open the can of oil base paint. Pour a quart of the can of paint into the paint pot.

2. Open the can of paint thinner. Pour four cups of thinner into the paint in your paint pot. Stir until the paint thinner has thoroughly mixed into the paint. Do not use water to try to thin oil base paint. It will not mix. Use the paint brush to cut in around the door handle, the deadbolt, and the hinges. Also use the paint brush to paint the outside edges of the door panels.

3. Pour the thinned paint from the paint pot into the paint tray. Place the 4" foam roller pad onto the 4" roller frame. Use the roller to paint all the flat areas of the door. Using a foam roller pad to paint all the flat areas will give the door a better quality finish. The roller pad eliminates brush marks.

4. Allow the door to completely dry. It is best to allow it to dry overnight. Oil-based paint takes quite a bit longer to dry than latex paint. Repeat the above steps to give the door a second coat of paint. Each day, completely rinse your paint tools in paint thinner.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not paint the entry edge of the door the same color as the exterior. This edge of the door opens into the house and should be the same color as the interior side of the door. The hinged edge of the door is painted the same color as the exterior side of the door. Use an edger or painter's tape to keep the paint from wrapping around the edge that is not being painted. For more durability on the exterior side of the door, use marine sealer after the paint has cured at least two weeks. If your brush or roller starts sticking to the door, add a litle more paint thinner to your paint.
• Oil-based paint will not come off with water. You will have to use paint thinner or mineral spirits to get it off. Do not try to paint the second coat in the same day. Your brush and roller will stick to the first coat of paint and ruin it. Do not use a cheap paint brush. It will leave streak marks in the paint. It is also next to impossible to cut in with them.

References

• Online Guide to Painting Fiberglass Doors