I just had my front door replaced. The new door is fiberglass. Do I need to prime it before putting the color on? I'm guessing yes, but I really hate painting and if I can eliminate a step, I'm that much happer.

Thanks.

 

I'd have to see the door first to give you a definitive answer, but since I can't see it from here, I'll go to the default--read the finishing instructions. If those aren't around, you should find out the brand/manufacturer of door and call them. You shouldn't have to, though, provided you use a high-quality exterior acrylic paint (DON'T use oil--you'll hate how it looks inside of 2 years). I'd recommend either Sherwin's Duration or ICI/Dulux's Fortis lines of exterior paints for this task.

Jason (painter by trade)

 

Thanks. It was suggested by the person who sold me the door to clean it with mineral spirits, use a tinted oil based primer (the door will be hunter green), then a quality exterior latex top coat. There is a MAB store very close to my house. I'm planning to get the paint there. Will a quart of primer and a quart of color be enough to do one side of the door and 2 14 inch sidelights? The inside is going to be white, so I'm going to have to get another can of white primer and white latex.

 

You definitely need to prime- always prime a unfinished surface for better adhesion- plus with tinting your primer you will get better color show through (less top coats). Go to your local sherwin williams and they will guide you in proper selection- most home depots, lowes , walmarts do not have qualified attendants. More than likely you will be pointed to use oil base primer with a 100% acrylic latex top coat. Even if you don't buy sherwin williams-- they will give you excellent advice. But, remember paint is one thing that you definitely get what you pay for 7.00 a gallon paint is a waste of time, $30 is about what you should spend unless you want to repaint evey other year. Less quaility paints means you are basically paying for the water in them (if Latex)-- go pick up a $40 gallon of paint and then a $7-- you will definitely feel the diference. AS far as how much you need read the side of the can and it will give you a good estimate. Supposively a gallon of paint will paint 400 square feet-- 250 is more like it. Your door is I would guess approximately 7 foot by 3. that is 21 square feet. A quart should be plenty unless you spill abunch- just read the side of the can it will tell you the coverage.