Best paint for front door

Exterior acrylic paint protects your exterior door from the elements.

Interior enamel paint is tough and durable, but don't make the mistake of painting your exterior door with it. The best paint for exterior doors is exterior acrylic paint because it is flexible and contains mildewcides designed to protect your door from harsh conditions. No paint will stick to dirt, grease or rust, so you will have to clean the door before you paint. Use a synthetic mini roller to give your door a fast and easy face-lift.

Plan to paint on a day with no rain in the forecast and the expected temperature will be 50 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Paint during the time of day when the sun is not shining directly on the door, as the heat can cause paint blistering.

Remove the doorknob, lockset and the kick plate with a screwdriver.

Cover the floor under the door with a drop cloth. Use the edge of a putty knife to remove old tape or decals from the door.

Apply a mildewcide cleaner to any mildew. You can also use a bleach solution of one part bleach to three parts water. Clean the door with soapy water. Use a degreaser to remove sticky residue left by tape. Allow the door to dry completely before painting.

Mask the hinges, the peephole, the door knocker and the weatherstrip on the bottom with painter's tape. Mask the perimeter of glass panes with a straight line of tape to ensure a uniform paint line. Tape everything that you don't want painted.

Remove peeling paint with a putty knife, but don't force the paint off. Use a wire brush to remove rust from metal doors.

Sand heavily weathered doors with a medium-grit sanding pad to smooth rough areas or flaking paint. Remove sanding dust with a clean, damp cloth. Omit this step if the door is in good shape.

Fill holes or dents in the door with wood putty or a filler for metal, using a putty knife. Allow the filler to dry completely.

Sand the entire door with a fine-grit sanding pad to ensure a smooth substrate for paint. Wipe away the sanding dust with a clean, damp cloth. Remove dust from corners of paneled doors using a small paintbrush.

Apply a bead of painter's caulk to cracks and seams around panels or windowpanes using a caulking gun. Remove excess caulk with a clean, damp cloth. Allow the caulk to dry completely.

Fill a paint pan with stain-blocking primer. Slide a 4- or 6-inch synthetic mini roller cover onto a mini roller handle. Apply a thin coat of primer, ensuring that you roll the edge of the door. Use the tip of the roller to cut in around hinges and hardware and to access the corners of recessed panels. You can use an angled paintbrush for cut-in, but it will leave brush marks in the paint. Roll out drips or thick areas. Allow the primer to dry for the time recommended by the manufacturer.

Sand the door lightly with a fine-grit sanding pad to smooth rough fibers brought out by the primer. Wipe off sanding dust with a clean, damp cloth.

Apply a second coat of primer to the door and allow it to dry completely. Clean the paint pan with soapy water.

Stir the paint thoroughly to evenly distribute the color pigments. Pour it into a paint pan and place a clean roller cover onto the roller handle.

Dip the roller into the paint and roll it back and forth over the grid lines to load the cover evenly. Use the tip of the roller, or an angled paintbrush, to cut in around hinges and hardware and to access the perimeters of recessed panel doors. Smooth out thick lines with the roller.