Anyone want to talk painting a front door?

[raqsfam]

I'm painting my front door in the next couple of days...I've read a few blogs on the how to's and I still can't get my head around the "correct" way to do it:

Current door is a faded navy blue (fiberglass i think) and going to be painting it dark red.

I've read that some people lightly sand and prime, then paint...and some skip the primer. I'm not taking the door off the hinges to paint, and I'll most likely be using an acrylic latex enamel paint (BM)

Anyone recently paint their door with good results? I know I'm probably making this way more complicated in my head than it should be!

Thanks!

[Ramz-ee]

I would recommend getting an outdoor paint with primer in it.

If the current paint is chipped, I would recommend sanding it down. But if the paint is just faded, I would wash the door and start painting.

Also, just do light coats and watch for drips. I have painted my front door a couple times and never followed any particular order. I tried using a roller, but had more success with a brush. It took longer, but worked better for me.

[sweetredheadx]

I painted my front door. I had to strip it first because of peeling and too many layers already on it.

I used a paint and primer in one. I was taught to always use a primer. The paint goes on easier, stays on longer, and needs less coats to look good.

[kaylie]

What is the door currently painted with? If it's latex, you can go over it with latex. If it's oil I think you have to strip it first. There's a way to test, I'm sure you can find out how by googling it.

I painted my door with crappy results but I'm too lazy to redo it and you can only tell that it sucks up close. I did learn a few things in the process though =). Lightly sand before you start. I would prime since you're going to red (make sure you tell them you're using red so they give you the right primer). You will probably need at least three coats for the red. Mine took four to stop looking pink. Use something self-leveling or add floetrol to avoid brush/roller marks.

[candreco]

I did, but my door was the bare factory primed surface, so it just needed to be cleaned and lightly sanded. If it's not chipping, I'd just give it a light sanding, and it will probably need three coats. And make sure that the paint is good for exterior use, I just asked the SW guy for his recommendation on paint and roller cover type, and they worked beautifully.