Summary: Even if you are planning to change your front door, you can consider a more cost effective option, which would be to upgrade your old looking front door by giving it a new finishing or putting some new hardware on it.
Redesigning your old door is an easy and a convenient process if you plan it in the proper manner. Always remember to start with such projects in a pleasant weather when the door is not exposed to much heat and direct sunlight and leaving the door open is not a problem.
First of all, be sure to remove any hardware on the surface and the set of locks on the door. You can consider leaving the door on the frame, if the hinges are not likely to be affected by the paint.
Place a waste cloth on the ground below to save it from any stains or paint marks. If you are not too sure of this, it is advisable to take off the door from the frame. You can either screw back the hinges or they can be soaked in paint stripper and polished.
The next step would be to remove any signs of the old and cracked paint and sanding the surface with a sand-paper. After doing so, a coat or two of slow-drying oil-base primer should be applied. Make sure that this primer is suited for the latex coatings and the oil base.
If any cracks or other cavities are visible in the door, they should be filled with vinyl spackling compound. Always use a superior quality gloss 100 percent acrylic latex paint.
Brush properly in the direction of the wood grains. If it is a flat door, the paint can be applied with an enamel roller, and then brushed over the surface.
The strokes should always be vertical and long and directed toward the center of the door. In case you have a paneled door, follow the order in which they should be painted. In such cases applying paint to the moldings first, is required. This should follow the panels, the horizontal rails, and finally to the vertical stiles.
No doubts, this is a simple job which can transform your old door into a new and attractive door with the help of some additional hardware.
You can find a wide variety of styles in kick-plates, doorknockers, lock sets and house numbers at nearby home improvement stores, online stores and hardware shops. Most of this hardware can be comfortably screwed on the door-barring the set of locks.
Installation process for the set of locks may vary based on your choice of style. It is always suggested to purchase a lock set which can easily fit into the door holes. Also remember to follow the instruction manual accompanying this set of locks.
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