How to Paint a Fiberglass Door? (Step-By-Step Tutorial)

Do you want to future-proof your home? Looking for ways that could help weather-seal its front entrance? Won’t mind if it provides added security and protection from the elements? If your answer to any of these questions is in the affirmative, you must know how to paint a fiberglass door.

Aside from doing everything that we mentioned in the previous paragraph, fiberglass doors are incredibly durable and long-lasting. They are extremely energy efficient and therefore place downward pressure on your energy bills. That allows them to repay their asking price several times over.

Go through this video for a primer and come back for a detailed fiberglass door painting guide.

Before you paint your fiberglass door

Select the right paint for the job. Three types of fiberglass paints can be found on the market – high gloss, regular gloss, and low gloss – and all of them have their pros and cons. You might want to choose a high-gloss paint if you wish to your door to stand out.

Go for the regular gloss paint if you don’t want your main entrance to attract attention. Low gloss paint merits your attention if you want to see your front door projecting a conservative look. Regardless of the type of paint, it must be rated as exterior paint as these paints resist weathering admirably.

Yet another thing you need to keep in mind is that oil-based or melamine paints aren’t recommended for fiberglass doors. Only select acrylic (100%), polyester, polyurethane, or epoxy paints as their chemical properties won’t weaken the structural integrity of fiberglass.

Lastly, you might want to use a paint that has the same base as that of the fiberglass resin. If the fiberglass is polyester-resin, use polyester-based paint. Use an epoxy resin paint for an epoxy resin fiberglass. Go through your fiberglass door’s manufacturer instructions if you are unsure about its resin.

What you’ll need to paint a fiberglass door?

Here’s a list of all the tools and equipment you’ll need to paint a fiberglass door:

• Primer
• Soft-bristled brush
• Synthetic paintbrush
• Dry cloth and sponge
• Painter’s tape
• Paint tray
• Old, worn-out newspaper

Step-by-Step Guide for painting fiberglass door

Follow these steps to paint a fiberglass door:

Step 1: Remove weatherstripping from the door

Follow the manufacturer’s directions and use a soft-bristled brush for this purpose. Any weatherstripping that might be left behind after this step needs to be removed with a soft, dry cloth. Make sure that the door is entirely clear before moving on to the next step.

Step 2: Wash the door

Add a few drops of dish soap into a bucket of warm water. Dip a dry sponge into the resulting mixture, and then use it to wipe clean the entire door. Start at the top and gently swipe your way towards the bottom by cleaning everything that comes in between.

Once you have thoroughly cleaned the door, rinse it by wiping it with a clear (but damp) sponge. There shouldn’t be any drop of soap on the door once you’re done rinsing it. Finally, give the door 2 to 3 hours (or more, depending on the weather out there) to dry completely.

Step 3: Cover hardware with painter’s tape

Cover all the areas surrounding the door, the window glass in it as well as the hardware on the door, such as the door jamb and the doorknob, with painter’s tape. This will make keep them protected from any stray paint droplets.

Afterward, if you have decided to paint the door without removing it from its frame, cover the area underneath it with a newspaper. Use old clothes or dry rag if you don’t have a newspaper.

Step 4: Stir the primer

As you’re doing this, open the windows of the room (if there are any) to ensure proper ventilation. Pour some of the primer into the paint tray after stirring it for a few minutes.

Step 5: Apply it to the edges of the door

You might use a paint spray gun to apply the primer. Most DIYers, however, recommend against it as spray guns are notorious for the paint that they waste. Also, you need to be an expert at painting to achieve a smooth, bright finish with a paint spray gun.

That is why we recommend that you use a painter’s synthetic brush for the job. Dip it in the primer that you’ve poured into the paint tray, wipe the excess onto the inner edge, and then apply the primer to all the four edges of the door.

Step 6: Apply the primer to the outer side of the door

Provided your fiberglass door has a wood-grain finish, you should follow the faux grain pattern while painting its exterior side. The grain texture typically runs horizontally along the top and bottom of the door, and vertically on its vertical portions.

Resist the temptation of applying too much primer as it will muddle the profile and detail of the door if added too thickly. Give the primer a few hours to dry.

Step 7: Apply the paint

Once you’re sure that the primer has fully dried, apply the paint. The first coat should be as light and even as possible. Let the first coat dry before applying the second coat. Most doors would give the finish you want after a couple of coats, so applying additional won’t be necessary.

Final Step:Repeat the previous two steps on the interior side of the door

The headline of this step is pretty self-explanatory. Cover any area that you think needs to be covered with the painter’s tape, apply primer along the four edges and follow up with the application of paint once the primer has dried

Conclusion

Provided you know how to paint a fiberglass door, you can not only prolong the shelf life of the door but also increase its ability to withstand elements. Freshly painted doors are extremely energy efficient as well, thereby rewarding you for the time, effort and money you spent on painting them by placing a downward pressure on your energy bills.