Learn how to paint french doors with a painting hack and see how we made over over our patio door on a budget!
Painting french doors or any door is an easy way to transform a door on a budget!
Our back patio door was in rough shape. After completing our DIY paver patio, I knew I wanted to give it a refresh. As much as I would love to replace it, a new door was not in the budget.
So, we decided to fix it up!
Here is a BEFORE AND AFTER!
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Painting french doors
The main focal feature of this door makeover was painting the french door black! Painting french doors or any door grids can be time consuming and frustrating. But, I tried a new hack out to make the process easier which I am sharing below with my how to paint french doors tutorial!
This painting tutorial can be used on french doors or any glass with window grids!
Except for the special painting hack I will be sharing for painting around the door grids, this painting tutorial is very similar to how to paint a metal door or exterior door!
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Replacing the old light and door hardware
To complete our patio door makeover, we also installed a new outdoor wall lantern, and a new door knob and deadbolt lock!
My favorite Amazon concrete planter was the perfect finishing touch! You can see more of my favorite Amazon outdoor planters here!
Also, here are all of the outdoor lantern light fixtures I considered:
How to paint french doors and patio door makeover video
See a video of this painting and patio door makeover in action on my Instagram stories and on YouTube!
How to paint french doors
Materials
- Degreaser Cleaner and sponge or rag
- Sandpaper (120-150 grit)
- Primer (I used this primer)
- Exterior Paint
- Paint Brush
- Small Paint Roller and tray
- Painters tape
Tools
1. Remove the door hardware
Use a screwdriver to remove the existing door hardware. This will make painting it much easier!
2. Hand sand the door lightly
Use a medium grit sandpaper and lightly hand sand the door just enough to scuff up the surface so the paint will adhere better. You can use 120 or 150 grit sandpaper.
3. Clean the door with a degreaser
Use a degreaser cleaner, water, and a sponge or rag and clean the door to remove dust or dirt.
Let it dry.
4. Prime the door
First, use a paint brush and cut in the edges, corners and creases with a high quality primer where a paint roller won’t reach easily.
Now, this is where Brandon and I tested out a new painting hack to make painting around all of the french door grids easier, so that we didn’t have to use painters tape.
Painters tape would take a long time for all of these grids and it doesn’t always work great on glass. I also considered using painters mask, but I’ve heard a lot of mixed reviews.
Painting french doors painting hack
We used a Drywall tool and a 4 inch putty knife scraper with the edge wrapped in painters tape (for easy clean up). We used these two tools to help hold between the glass and the french door grids while cutting the grids in with a paint brush and the primer.
This painting hack worked really well! It wasn’t perfect, but if any paint seeps under the tool onto the glass it can be scraped off at the end.
Next, use a small roller to finish priming the door.
Let it dry.
5. Paint the french door
I love a black door, especially for exterior doors! So, we used an exterior paint and Black Tricorn by Sherwin Williams. It’s the same color we used on our front porch door makeover. You can’t go wrong with french doors painted black!
Repeat the same process used for the primer but with the paint.
Use paintbrush and the painting french doors hack tools to cut in the door.
Then, finish painting the first coat on the door with a roller.
Let it dry and repeat again with a second coat of paint!
6. Scrape off any paint on the glass
If any paint leaked onto the glass, remove it with a razor blade scraper tool.
And that’s it! It took some patience painting all of the door grids, but it was well worth it! Also, we did paint the door trim too, with exterior paint in Alabaster by Sherwin Williams.
I think our patio door makeover looks great! Such a transformation from before! What do you think? I hope this how to paint french doors tutorial and patio door makeover has been helpful!
Don’t forget to check out how to paint a metal door too!
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Kathi
Saturday 15th of June 2024
I like it! You’re right, black paint makes a feature, like a door, to stand out and give a fresh contemporary look. Great job!
Angela Marie Made
Monday 17th of June 2024
Thank you!!