How to Paint French Doors

French doors are built to add charm and class to any home. They can break up the monotony of a room both inside the home as well as a set of doors leading to the outside. French doors are not like other doors because there is a lot of glass in each door. Over time, you may need to paint your French doors and that seems like a daunting process because of all of the glass which is not easy to paint around normally. For a new painter, painting French doors may look difficult but it is quite simple. You can complete your painting in one weekend.

Step 1 - Prepare the Space

Trying to paint French doors while they are still attached is not a good idea. Remove the doors from the hinges before painting. Lay down a plastic sheet on the area where you will be working. Place the sawhorse over the plastic sheet and place one of the French doors on the sawhorse to give you a clean and flat area to work.

Remove all of the hardware from the door. This includes the hinges, the handles and any other metal fittings. Use the wood putty to fill any scratches or holes that are on the door. When the putty dries, you will then use the sandpaper to remove any bumps on the surface. Run over the surface with a damp cloth to take off any paint dust. Now, tape off glass panes with the painter's tape. This will help prevent getting paint on the glass.

Step 2 - Primer and Paint

In order to get the best results on your French doors you should prime them first. Carefully paint the door with primer and wait for it to dry then go over it with a second coat. When the primer is dry you can then paint the French doors with the color of paint you chose. Wait for it to dry before deciding if you need a second coat. Keep in mind that you will have two doors to paint and two sides as well.

Be sure to apply a weatherproof sealant for the doors that face the outdoors. The sealant will protect the paint color from rain, sun and snow.

Step 4 - Finishing Up

When you are done painting the French doors, you can then replace all of the hardware you removed. Use the razor blade to help lift the painter's tape off of the glass. Check over your work just in case you need to touch it up at all. When you are satisfied with the finished product you can then hang the door back in its place. Be sure to allow sufficient drying time before you hang the door to avoid having to do the work again.

There are other things you can do to your french doors to keep them looking new and modern. One of the most common thing you can do is to apply a dark tint to the windows. This will help keep the home cool in the summer and will diffuse the harsh sun's rays. Many tints also keep out harmful UV rays.