Can you paint a vinyl door? Yes. Will you ever receive a guarantee that the paint on your vinyl door won't begin to peel or strip? No. Painting a vinyl door carries with it certain built-in expectations that a wooden door does not in that regard. Even so, the process is not nearly as painful as you might expect.
Things You'll Need:
- Primer
- Paint
- Tape
- Paint pan
- Roller
- Brushes
- Mask
- Paint sprayer (optional)
Tip
After you are finished painting the first coat, let it dry completely. After the paint dries you will be better able to detect where you need a second coat.
If the door sticks after painting it, use a utility knife or sander to even out the area that is sticking.
Begin the process of by applying a proper paint primer. A waterborne primer is ideal for composite materials like vinyl because it can be used on inside and outside doors. In addition, waterborne primer cleans up very easily with just soap and water and dries quickly. Allow the primer to dry completely.
The quickest and most painless method of applying paint to a vinyl door is with a sprayer. If you are not familiar with a paint sprayer, be sure to read the instructions or, even better, ask for details when renting or buying the sprayer. The only downside to using a sprayer to apply a brand new coat of paint to your vinyl door is that you will need to cover up any item in the room where the door is being painted. This means using tape to cover the areas around the door, removing small items and covering up large items with plastic. The paint from a sprayer is convenient because it covers a larger area than a roller or brush. Unfortunately, this means that the spray of paint may veer off course and cover areas you do not necessarily wish to be painted.
Warnings:
- The molding on a vinyl door tends to absorb paint more than the other parts of the door, so don't be surprised if after the drying period you find you need to apply a second or even third coat. One way to avoid this problem is to apply more primer to these areas before you begin to paint.
Painting a vinyl door can be done old school style with a roller or brush; it just takes a little bit more time. Be sure to cover up any window panes in the door or any other part that you don't wish to be painted over. If there is a grain in the vinyl, you should paint with the grain rather than against it. The best way to ensure smooth coverage is to begin at the top and slowly move downward, starting each new application about 1 to 2 inches from the bottom of where the last brush or roller stroke ends.
Writer Bio
Timothy Sexton's more than 10,000 articles have been published on sites ranging from USA Today to CareerAddict, from PopEater to TakeLessons.com. His writing has been referenced in books ranging from "The Reckless Life...of Marlon Brando" to "Brand New China: Advertising, Media and Commercial and from Scarface Nation to Incentive!"
Related Articles
