Can You Paint Composite Doors?
Whether you are looking for a new front door or would just like to change the doors in your home completely - you can't go wrong with a composite door.
These contemporary and extremely durable doors are available in a plethora of composite door colours and will fit well with basically any home and style.
If you happen to want a change of colour, you might be wondering whether you can paint composite doors or not and if it's possible to change the colour of your composite doors.
In this article, we will go over whether it is a good idea to paint a composite door and, if so, how to go about it. We will also provide you with further tips and tricks on how to look after the new colour of your composite doors.
Before you do, check out our composite door builder - you can get a new energy-efficient door online - why paint?!
What Does Composite Mean?
Firstly, let's answer the most pressing question: What is a composite door?
Composite material is extremely durable and lightweight and has become a modern replacement for wooden doors and other materials used in fences, patios and other outdoor furnishings.
As the name suggests, composite material is composed of several different elements. Most door manufacturers use a mix of glass-reinforced plastic and wood, and some even use metal.
Due to the way they are being manufactured, composite materials are very low maintenance but highly robust. A composite product can withstand extreme weather conditions and will keep its colour for a long time.
Regular timber doors tend to crack due to moisture, are very heavy, and can also lose their colours due to exposure to extreme weather. Considering these factors, it only makes sense to choose composite doors as an alternative.
Can You Paint A Composite Door?
Now that we have established why composite doors are a popular choice of door furniture for many UK homeowners, you might be wondering whether or not painting composite doors is possible.
Thanks to its durability, your new composite door might last longer than your latest colour scheme and what's trendy, and you might want to make some changes to your home at some point.
With that in mind, being able to paint your interior or exterior doors becomes an important part of your buying decision.
Luckily, it is not just possible but also fairly easy to paint a composite door.
Many manufacturers claim that you should not paint a composite door, or that they never need to be re-painted, but you can apply a new layer of paint to a composite door if you want to, without too much hassle.
On the other hand, you should know that it's not necessary to paint a composite door.
The colour of your composite door will never fade, so it might be better to go for a neutral colour that will work with any interior or exterior design you choose a few years later.
Should you still want to paint or repaint your composite door, we will walk you through the dos and don'ts in the following section.
How To Paint A Composite Door
If you want to re-paint your indoor or front door made of composite, stick to the following guidelines on how to paint a composite door successfully.
Before we get started, make sure you have everything you need to paint your old door. You will need:
- Suitable paint for composite doors
- Sandpaper
- Paint brushes
- Exterior paint
- Drop sheet
- Filling knife
- Masking tape
1. Choose the correct composite door paint
As with all materials, it is incredibly important to choose the correct paint for composite doors. Going for paint that was not specifically made for composite materials will not give you the finish you are looking for - instead, you will probably end up having to do the paint job twice.
On top of that, trying to take off paint that was never meant to be on composite might end up damaging your door, damaging its durability. So be mindful when paint shopping and, when in doubt, rather get expert advice on what paint will be best to use.
The most important thing to consider when painting a composite door is what it is made of. As mentioned already, composite doors are made of several materials blended together. Therefore, simple wood paint might not suffice, but neither will metal paint - or any other regular paint, for that matter.
You should avoid any latex paint and rather go for oil-based enamels, because they provide better coverage and a professional finish.
Note that if you want to paint your composite front door, the door colour you choose should be a suitable exterior paint. Since your front door is going to be exposed to all kinds of weather, it requires a more durable paint than your other internal doors, for instance.
You can also chat to your composite door manufacturer and ask whether they offer a specific type of composite door painting.
2. Prepare your composite doors
Before applying any paint to your composite door you need to prepare it first.
This is possibly the most important step in painting a composite door. If you haven't prepared your door properly, the paint will not be able to hold as well or the finish will not look as desired.
Remove any door furniture, such as handles or letter boxes, and apply masking tape around any glass windows as well as the door frame.
Remove dirt from your door; wash it with some warm, clean water and a bit of mild soap or sugar soap. This will help in removing any grime, dirt or oil residue on your door that might make it more difficult for paint to stick to the surface.
If you need more advice on how to clean a composite door, you can check out our expert guide.
Sugar soap can often come as a spray or as wipes, depending on your preferred method.
Make sure there are no rough spots or bumps on your door. If you notice any, use a fine-grit sandpaper to sand and smooth these areas.
If you sand your door, clean it again with some water to remove any dust particles.
Apply primer to metallic and bare wood areas. It is best to use oil-based paint for a perfect finish.
3. Paint your composite door
Once you have cleaned and prepared the door and the primer has dried, it is time to apply your chosen door colour.
Make sure you follow the instructions and allow the first coat of paint to dry completely. This can sometimes take a day.
Re-apply the same colour for a second coat and let it dry sufficiently.
Note that exterior paint sometimes needs even longer to dry, so make sure that you choose a dry day to paint your front doors (or back doors). You do not want any rain or hail or unnecessary moist air to mess with your paint job.
4. Finish
Once the new layers of composite door paint have dried on your composite door, it is time to apply a finish.
You can choose beeswax or a similar product as a finishing touch, which will provide your newly painted door with a protective layer and ensure that the colour will stay beautiful for a long time.
After everything has dried sufficiently, re-install the door handles, letter boxes, and any other furnishings.
Make sure that you handle the door with care for the next two or three weeks, as the paint can still be sensitive to bumps and scratches, especially a dog scratching a composite door that is newly painted.
FAQs
Below is some further information on applying paint to your composite doors.
What is the best paint for composite doors?
You should always paint your composite doors with a suitable colour that is specifically made for the material and the environment the colour will be exposed to.
If you are planning to paint your front door (or even your back door), then choosing exterior paint that comes with high UV-resisting properties is recommended, as this will prevent your door from flaking or cracking, and will also prevent the colour from fading, making it the best paint for composite doors.
Check if there is an al fresco paint range for the colour of your choice so you can use it on your house's composite external door and walls.
Can you repaint a composite door?
Even the most expensive and durable composite door paint can lose its colour over time. This is mainly because of corrosion that occurs when paint is exposed to adverse weather conditions, such as strong sunlight, rain, snow or ice.
Therefore, if you have applied extra paint to your composite doors, you might have to repaint them eventually.
If reviving your composite doors with some deep-penetrating oils has not worked, it might be time to repaint your door.
Remove all old layers before repainting your door. This needs to be done carefully so you do not damage the composite material and decrease the door's structural integrity.
Try taking off the paint with a heat fan and slowly scrape or sand the paint off carefully.
Then you can follow the steps we covered in the section above and repaint your door with either the same or a different colour of your choice.
If you don't want to repaint your whole front door, you should also consider staining your composite door.
Can you use spray paint for composite doors?
Yes. Make sure you choose the correct type of paint and use masking tape and drip sheets to protect your exterior walls and other furniture, then you are able to spray paint your composite front door.
Although, composite door painting with a paint roller will likely be cheaper and allow you to save money, spray painting is often seen as the most effective way of painting a composite door, since it means you can cover larger areas in a shorter amount of time.
Can you change the colour when painting composite doors?
The most popular front door colours in the UK are a neutral white or a shade of brown. But, depending on your style and whether you prefer something bolder, you can consider a strong red, indigo blue, or even a beautiful and refreshing green.
There are dozens of colours to choose from, and if you've had a look at our selection you'll know that composite doors already come in all of these colours.
However, if you do not want to buy a new door, the short answer is: yes. You can change the colour of your composite door, but only by applying a fresh coat of paint. Just follow the steps in this article and you'll find it easy to customise your front door.
If you are looking for inspiration, there are many great ideas online and suggestions about which colours complement one another and how they would go with your home. But first, take a good look at your property's exterior and architecture to choose the right colour.
Also, note that an exterior door colour will fade faster than an interior door, so a bolder and stronger colour will be the better choice for a front or back door and frame.
If you want to bring the whole look of your house together, we highly recommend painting your window frames in the same colour as your door.
This will add some more colourful touches and enhance the colour of your new composite door, too. Or, if that sounds boring, offset your freshly painted door with window frames in a contrasting colour.
If you want further information or inspiration, there are a lot of helpful tips on our blog.
Painting a Composite Door - Final Thought
We hope this guide has answered the question "Can you paint a composite door?" and also informed you on how to paint composite doors.
There might be several reasons why you would want to change the colour of your doors, and many homeowners who do not want replacement front doors wonder whether they can paint their composite doors themselves.
In this article, we covered whether you can paint on composite and explained the most important steps to take when you feel like a DIY paint job for your doors to give them a new style.
If you are still unsure how to go on about painting a composite door, our friendly team will be more than happy to assist you. We also offer a broad range of composite doors in various stunning traditional or more contemporary colours. Check out our range of composite doors today and contact us for more information on a replacement door!
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