Proper Procedure Of Painting The Fiberglass Door
Fiberglass doors have many advantages than steel as well as the wooden doors with only fewer drawbacks. A fiberglass door is much more light in weight and is maintenance-free. Painting a fiberglass door quickly changes the look of the home. The proper procedure for painting the fiberglass door is mentioned below:
Preparing The Door
- Painter’s Tape: Lay out a cloth all along the door to catch up any spills and mask the glass, hinges as well as the doorknob with the painter’s tape. Avoid taping to the wood or fiberglass.
- Clean The Door: Take a rag and then dip in acetone or mineral spirits to clean the door. Leave the cleaner until it will dry thoroughly, and the odor has dissipated.
- Mild Detergent Solution: Dip a clean and the soft rag in the mild detergent solution and then carefully wash the door all over. After that rinse it off with a fresh rag and leave the door to dry completely.
- Sand The Wooden Trim: Lightly sand all the wooden trims that are around the glass insets, if applicable, then use 220-grit sandpaper. It is very important not to sand the fiberglass. Wipe off all the sanding dust with the help of a lint-free cloth which is dampened in acetone.
- Bonding Primer: Using a small paintbrush apply a thick coat of the bonding primer on the newly sanded wooden trim. Allow the primer to dry out for at least 2 hours or until it is fully dry.
Painting The Door
- Mix Properly: Open the paint can and then stir it slowly to make sure that it is properly mixed. Avoid the rapid stirring, which can easily cause air bubbles to appear. After that take a narrow paintbrush and dip into the paint but it is important to remove all the excess paint by wiping it on the edge of the can. Paint all over the wooden trim around glass insets, but paint in the directions of a grain of the wood.
- Paint The Recessed Door Panels: With the help of a wide brush paint the recessed panels of the door. Use the smooth and even strokes again in the direction of the grain. Smooth out the paint to avoid any drips or runs. Try to start work from the center of each of the panels and from outside along with its faces.
- Horizontal And Vertical Sections: The horizontal sections of the door is known as the rails. Start the paint from the top and then work the way to the bottom. Apply the paint in a smooth side-to-side stroke. Also paint the vertical centerpiece of the fiberglass door which is known as a stile, in the smooth up-and-down motion.
- Brush The Remaining Vertical Stiles: Using the smooth up-and-down strokes paint the remaining vertical stiles. Start from the left and then to the right. It is important to feather the paint at the previously painted sections. Finish up the job with the door's edges.
- Dry: Leave the door overnight for complete dry before using the door, or applying a topcoat. Topcoat include a second coat of paint or simply a sealant.
Important Tips
- If in case the door is previously painted or stained, then it is advisable to follow up the same pattern to apply a bonding primer on the door before painting.
- Select the best quality exterior-grade water-based latex paint. The oil paint will not damage the fiberglass door but it is more difficult to use. Lacquer is not good for fiberglass surfaces.
- One of the important tip is to have a small number of different-sized brushes available.