Paint Your Front Door
A bold door color is the cheapest curb-appeal upgrade there is. One Saturday, under $40 in paint.
Remove or tape off hardware
Either unscrew the knob, knocker, and kick plate, or mask them with painter's tape. Removing takes longer but yields a cleaner finish.
Clean and sand lightly
Wipe the door with a degreaser. Sand lightly with a 220-grit sponge to give the new paint something to grip.
Prime any bare spots
If you're going from dark to light, or over stained wood, prime first. Otherwise, direct-to-surface exterior paint is fine.
Paint panels first, then stiles and rails
Paint the recessed panels first with a 2" brush, then the vertical stiles, then the horizontal rails. Two thin coats beat one thick coat.
Let cure before closing
The first few hours of dry time, keep the door propped open. Rehang hardware after 24 hours. Avoid slamming for a week so paint fully cures.
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