Your home is an extension of your personality. It reflects your style, taste and personality. Over time elements can take a toll on the outside of your home. The weather can make your home look weathered and worn out. Arguably, your front door is the most prominent feature of your home, so if the door starts to lose its prominent colour and standing it can dull your home. This article post will explore the art of painting and refreshing your composite door and will demonstrate to you how painting and refreshing your door can breathe a new lease of life into the exterior of your home. 

The composite door: an overview

Composite doors are an exterior door that is made from a combination of materials to maximise performance and enhance individual strengths together. The main materials that make up a composite door include wood, uPVC (unplasticized polyvinyl chloride) and GRP (glass reinforced plastic). Each of these materials combine together bringing their different qualities together to produce a strong, high-quality product for your front door.

The composite door is a solid timber centre surrounded by layers of reinforced materials, most commonly uPVC and GRP. This combination of materials gives your composite door high strength, durability and great insulation properties.

Some key features of composite doors include:

• Strength & durability. Composite doors are known for their resistance to wear and tear, durability,robustness and their strength. They can withstand harsh weather conditions that are perfect for them to be front or back doors.
• Security. Composite doors can give you enhanced security features and more often than not have multi-point locking systems. This can make it more difficult for intruders to gain access into your home, making it more safe and secure for your family.
• Energy efficiency. Composite doors are great at maintaining the inside temperature of your home.and gives you and your home insulation and protects you against heat loss and drafts helping to reduce your energy bills. 

Why consider painting your composite door?

Painting your composite door is a great way to enhance the appearance of your door and provide several benefits which can make painting your composite door worthwhile in the long run. Some of the reasons you should consider when thinking about painting your composite door include:

• Aesthetics. Over time, your composite door can start to show signs of wear and tear and fading due to the doors exposure to the elements and harsh weather conditions. Painting your door can give it a fresh and vibrant look. There are a wide range of colours and finishes that are available to match your door with the feel and vibe of the aesthetics of your home.
• Personalisation. Being able to personalise and paint your door is the perfect opportunity to add any personal touches you want to your door. Whether you’re after a bold, vibrant and crazy aesthetic or a muted, classic more subtle vibe it gives you the flexibility to create a unique look that is personal to you and complements your property.
• Curb appeal. Having your front door freshly painted and coated can increase your home's curb appeal massively. It is one of the most noticeable things and mainly the first thing a visitor sees when they arrive at your home or pass by your home.
• Cost Effective. Replacing and getting a new composite door installed can be expensive and cost you a pretty penny. If the door you already have is structurally sound and there are no functionality problems or damage to the door painting it can be a great way to refresh your home achieving the new look you want without having to replace the door entirely.
• Environmental considerations. With the world in an environmental crisis instead of replacing your door and disposing of your old one, painting your door can be an environmentally friendly alternative. By painting your door instead of replacing it you can reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill and help to contribute towards sustainability efforts.

Debunking myths: can you really paint a composite door?

Can you really paint a composite door? Yes! You can paint your composite door and refresh its appearance as much as you want! However there are some common myths and misconceptions that can circulate about painting composite doors that we will put straight!

Myth1: Composite doors cannot be painted. 

This is probably the biggest myth we’re debunking today. This is false. Of course composite doors can be painted! A fresh coat of paint can help to make your door look fresh and vibrant and enhance your door for a better appearance and possibly even a longer lifespan! In some cases painting your composite door can be seen as recommended as a great way to refresh and revitalise them!

Myth 2: The paint won’t stick.

This isn’t always the case. Paint will adhere well to your composite door if it is properly prepared. Preparation is key. Failure to prepare is preparing to fail as they say! Preparing your composite door for painting can include cleaning the door, sanding it down and also selecting and using the right type of primer and the right kind of paint. Composite doors are actually designed to accept paint and by using the correct materials and the proper techniques the paint should adhere and bond to the door well.

Myth 3: The paint will just chip or peel away.

The paint shouldn’t chip or peel away from your composite door once it has been painted if it is done correctly. To ensure that it doesn't chip or peel again you need to make sure you have the proper surface preparation, high quality paints and primers and you are applying the paint correctly with the proper techniques.

Myth 4: It’s not even worth the effort right?

You may be thinking this is true, this sounds like a lot of work. Is it even going to be worth it when all is said and done. Well, painting your door is a very straightforward process and it can give your home the benefits you are looking for. Painting your composite door will allow for your door's appearance to be refreshed and revitalised and you can also add a personal touch onto your home. It gives you a fresh door that looks brand new without having to actually have a brand new composite door installed!

Choosing the right paint for your composite door

When you are choosing the right paint for your composite door it is important to pick the right one to achieve the long-lasting and desired finish you want. Some things you can consider in your decision process are;

1. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations. You can start your decision process by looking at your doors' manufacturing guidelines and see if they have any specific recommendations about painting your door. In some cases the manufacturer will recommend different paint brands or types that they know are compatible with their doors to help you achieve the best finish and get the overall look you are looking for.
2. Selecting the exterior paint. When you are buying your paint make sure to double check that the paint you have chosen is specifically designed to be used outdoors and on exterior surfaces. Exterior paints formulas are made to withstand the weather conditions with more harsh elements than interior paints such as UV rays, rain and storms and changes in temperature.
3. The paint’s quality. When you select your paint make sure you are going for a paint which is high quality which is made from acrylic latex or even 100% acrylic. This kind of paint provides more durability and better adhesion as well as being more resistant to cracking and peeling.
4. Using a primer. It is essential that you use a primer when you are painting your composite door to make sure that your paint has proper adhesion and also to make sure that you get a smooth finish on your finish look. But be careful again when choosing your primer and make sure that it is compatible with your chosen paint.

Preparing your composite door for painting

Properly preparing your door before painting is essential. The proper preparation is needed for the paint to be smooth and have a long-lasting finish. You will need materials such as:

• Mild detergent or specialised composite door cleaner
• Water
• Sandpaper (medium grit)
• Painters tape
• Plastic sheets or protective sheets
• Rags
• Primer
• Paint Brushes & rollers & paintrays
• Paint

A few things you need to do when preparing to paint your composite door are:

• Removing the hardware from your door.
• Cleaning the door.
• Get your exterior primer paint.
• Get your exterior main coat colour paint.

Step-by-step guide: how to paint a composite door

1. Remove the hardware from your door. This will make it easier for you to paint the door more evenly and prevent paint from getting on the door's hardware.
2. Clean the surface of the door. Clean the surface of the door properly to remove any dirt, dust, grease or any other grime. Use the mild detergent or special composite door cleaner mixed with water to clean the door. Clean the door gently with the cleaning agents using a soft sponge and paying attention to particularly stained or dirty areas. Allow to dry completely before proceeding.
3. Sanding the surface down. Lightly sand the entire surface of the door with medium grit sandpaper. Creating a slightly roughened surface to help the paint adhere more to the surface. A tip for sanding the doors: sand in the direction of the wood grain (if your door has a wood grain)
4. Clean again. After sanding your door down make sure to give it another clean / wipedown with a damp cloth to remove any dust and debris from sanding.
5. Protect any surrounding areas. Use your painters tape to protect the areas surrounding the door and the frame and use your drop sheets to cover and protect the flooring surrounding the door as well to ensure they do not accidentally get paint on them.
6. Apply primer. Apply the primer to your door. Make sure to follow manufacturer's recommendations including drying times. Use your paintbrushes and paint rollers to apply an even coat over the door.
7. Applying exterior paint. After waiting for the primer to dry until it is at least dry to the touch. Then once your primer has dried you can begin to apply your exterior paint. Using a high quality paint brush or roller make sure you are working in even strokes and following the grain of the door (if your door has wood grain). Making sure that you apply the paint in even coats. If you need to apply more coats do so, after waiting the recommended amount of time by the manufacturer for drying times.

Applying the finishing touch: beeswax

As an additional finishing touch after finishing painting the door you can apply beeswax. Beeswax is used as an additional layer of protection for your door and to enhance its appearance. Beeswax can give your door a subtle sheen and protect it from environmental elements, to apply beeswax you can:

1. Gather your materials: beeswax furniture polish or finish product for use on painted surfaces and clean, lint free cloths or rags you have.
2. Prepare the door. Clean the door and make sure it is free from any debris, dirt or dust.
3. Test a small area. Before applying the beeswax to the entire door, test it in a small area so make sure it gives you the desired effect you are looking for.
4. Applying the beeswax.grab one of your clean cloths or rags and dip it into the beeswax. Using a small amount to begin with as you can make a little amount of product goes a long way. When you are applying the beeswax, apply it in a circular motion and work with a manageable section of the door at a time.
5. Post application. After applying the beeswax to the door you can take another clean cloth or rag and use that to buff the surface of the door to help spread the beeswax evenly.

Long term results: What to expect after painting your composite door

There are many long term results and benefits you can gain from painting your composite door. Provided that you have used the proper materials and proper equipment you can expect to see benefits such as:

• Enhanced appearance. The main reason most people choose to paint their composite door is to refresh its appearance and maintain a fresh and new appearance to the door.
• Protection against the elements. Painting your door gives an extra barrier layer to protect the door. Over time the paint barrier helps to prevent moisture infiltration, this can lead to swelling and warping. The paint can also help to reflect UV rays stopping the door from fading and deteriorating.
• Customization and personalisation. You can personalise your composite door to your aesthetic, look and your home's vibe and feel.

Comparing paint options: Frenchic vs all coat

Conclusion

In a nutshell, painting your existing composite door is a DIY win-win for you and your home. It is a budget friendly way to give your home a refreshing face-lift and add a pop of colour and personality to your home while also protecting it against the elements and keeping it in top condition. So is your composite door in need of a refresh or a face-lift? Pick up your paint brushes and channel your inner artist getting to work on making your door look its best again! Your curb appeal will definitely thank you!