Getting ready to paint a new front door and have questions.

Louise
by Louise

I've just bought Sherwin-Williams exterior hi-gloss deep red paint and will start painting this door in a basement room on saw-horses in the next few days. I plan to apply Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 gray primer first and then put about 3 coats of red paint on the door, sanding ever so slightly between each coat after each has dried thoroughly. So now one question is -- should I use a roller or brush? The door is a smooth fiberglas and obviously, I want it to look as smooth and nice as possible. I used a brush when I painted my interior bannister this same color because it didn't seem to lend itself to a roller. And IF I go with a roller, which kind will give me the best, smoothest finish? ALSO, the between-coats light sanding --- should it be with very fine steel wool or very fine sandpaper or does it make a difference?

  10 answers
  • Janice Fuger Janice Fuger on Sep 08, 2018

    We also used Sherwin Williams paint for our door. It came out amazing! The person at the store recommended a rather pricy 3" brush that I almost didn't buy. He was right! It made the paint go on extremely smooth with no brush marks. One good part about the expensive brush is that if I keep it cleaned in between projects, it will last for many years u unlike my cheaper ones that I just throw away. Good luck!

  • We repainted our fiberglass front door last fall with a similar paint. They recommended we use a brush at the paint store. It turned out great with a high quality paint brush (to avoid loosing any bristles). We primed, then did two coats of paint. I would use a fine sandpaper for the sanding in between.

  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Sep 08, 2018

    For best answers ask where you got the paint. Spraying it would work the best.

  • Louise Louise on Sep 08, 2018

    I did ask them. They weren't keen on spraying.

  • 2dogal 2dogal on Sep 09, 2018

    When I painted my metal door, I used a good quality brush on the cut in areas, then a small sponge roller on the rest. Yes, a fine grit sandpaper works well between coats.

  • I always use a brush for the small parts and a small foam roller for the larger, flat parts.

  • Kathleen Basiewicz Kathleen Basiewicz on Sep 09, 2018

    You should get an expensive cut in brush for the smaller and indented parts of the door, and the foam roller for the flat parts. It will cover fine. You can use 0000 steel wool or fine sand paper.

  • Em Em on Sep 09, 2018

    You need a brush to get in the recessed part of the door. Paint that first then a roller on the flat parts will guarantee a "no brush mark" finish. Use a short nap. Longer nap leaves more of a texture. I did my front metal door and never sanded in between coats. Did it years ago and still looks great.

  • Bijous Bijous on Sep 09, 2018

    Hi. If the paint did not do well on the banister with a roller, the answer is to use a brush. To avoid brush strokes, I use an extender. It takes longer for the paint to dry between coats, but allows the paint time to "lay down" properly. Happy painting!


    *click on pix to expand.

  • Lucy Marie Bernier Lucy Marie Bernier on Sep 10, 2018

    You can also try a fine foam roller. That works well.