Painting Plastic Exterior Door Trim

Clean the door surface well.

Painting plastic exterior door trim.

If your door is paneled start with the panels. Since plastic is smooth and. An acrylic latex paint is recommended. If you were to paint a vinyl door with normal exterior paint it would peel and chip very quickly especially with frequent use and exposure to the elements.

Prep the exterior door and plastic trim for painting. In order to brighten the plastic frame and really make your door pop you will need to give extra attention to your trim. Do not paint unprimed plastic door trim or the finish will peel. When you venture out to the store you will need brushes that are the right size for your plastic frame.

Tape off the inside of the window panels using painters tape. Using semigloss exterior paint and a 2 inch angled sash brush with synthetic bristles paint around the edges of the. The best way to paint trim requires some planning and careful preparation but the painting project will complement or emphasize other colors of your walls. Starting at a top corner of the door trim begin painting along the side edge of the trim where it meets the wall.

Do not paint unsanded plastic door trim or flaking will result. Painting vinyl is an inexpensive option particularly when compared to buying tinted panels to fit over the door s surface. This guide teaches how to paint trim around windows and doors as well as baseboards and other moulding to liven up your rooms. Use acrylic latex paint on exterior plastic door trim.

Reload the brush when necessary and maintain a wet edge. Plastic door trim can fade dull or yellow from sun exposure and time. Remove door handles if you desire to or tape around them carefully with painter s tape. Don t finish plastic door trim using a nylon brush or the finish will dry flawed with brush marks.

Paint a section at a time. There s less flexibility however for scheduling a paint job on exterior trim. Continue until all side edges of the trim are complete. Your paint should be a high quality exterior paint that will endure the elements.

If painting exterior trim though opt for the paint labeled. I used benjamin moore s aqua lock primer for this step. Prime the metal door and plastic trim.