Paint A Door Using Porch Floor Enamel

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A quick color change can give an entryway a whole new look, but painting a door isn't exactly the most fun job on your to-do list. We're all for taking a shortcut, as long as it doesn't mean more work down the road. And that's when we hit the point in our lives where we were excited about door paint.

It turns out the key to painting a door in one easy step is to use...porch and floor enamel. This type of paint dries to a hard, colorfast, moisture- and mildew-resistant surface. (All without needing a primer coat.) It's ideal for front doors because the enamel dries to a super-strong coating that offers unparalleled protection against scratches. Once you paint a door with it, the color will stay bright and fresh-looking for season after season.

And, um...it also prevents the wood from rotting, something that most of us don't detect until things get really gross. Trust me, you do not want that happening. (But if it isn't too out of control, small bits of wood rot can be fixed with epoxy.)

The caveat: Enamel dries to a very glossy finish. So if you aren't a fan of the look, try an oil-based enamel, which has the same benefits of porch and floor enamel, but comes in eggshell finishes. Just be prepared for a slightly longer drying time.

Flickr photo by monkeysox

 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Ljilja
http://graciouslivingdaybyday.com/
03:37 PM on 10/24/2011
Thank you! What a good idea.

That barn red color looks so warm and inviting. It's just what my house needs.

http://graciouslivingdaybyday.com/
02:00 PM on 10/24/2011
Boy, as an interior designer, there is nothing more than giving your front door a good coat of paint to spruce up the look of your house. It also is the first thing to make your beautiful house look bad if your door is faded and ugly. So, yes, this article is great. Red, Forest Green, are my favorites!
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chiodo08
...come off your front foot for a "change"...
03:35 PM on 10/24/2011
we have kind of a light moss/sage house and I saw in a decor magazine a mandarin orange door on something similar. I loved it. It seems like EVERYBODY is doing a red door and I wanted something different. But you have to be careful. That last thing I wanted was that gator orangy orange. The mandarin was perfect...ever do something like that?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
chad2
hater of evil
01:20 PM on 10/24/2011
I'm sure floor paint would work fine on a door, since it is a strong finish, but generally, shinier finishes are harder. I use high gloss rustoleum on doors as well floor surfaces such as wooden thresholds and mantle aprons. It creates a very strong and hard finish.
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12:42 PM on 10/24/2011
I prefer to trim my bush in the front ( no Brazilian) - it increases the curb appeal.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Carbon Forteetoo
Not enough characters to say anything clev
02:10 PM on 10/24/2011
You must have a really easy-going Homeowners Association.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Ecoli
Enlightened
12:18 PM on 10/24/2011
Red is the Chinese color of luck and happiness, in India the marriage color is love and romance, and in the West ~ courage and passion. In Feng Shui RED color is the choice ~ only if the door facing South. However, some Feng Shui practitioners sorely advocate RED DOOR FENG SHUI and generally recommends a RED DOOR regardless of the direction.
After applying Enamel paint finish with sealants: it help protect the enamel from chipping but also from help repel dust that the oil-based paint will otherwise surely attract and hold like flypaper. Sealants typically come in spray-can format, and can be applied in seconds.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mikkrikk
12:10 PM on 10/24/2011
just don't paint it red.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Ecoli
Enlightened
12:35 PM on 10/24/2011
You can paint it in purple if you wish.
http://www.theapartmentcam.com/tag/purple-paint-doors
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
peegan
Obama 2012
01:46 PM on 10/24/2011
Why not? It's a classic.

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