Facts and Steps about How to Paint a Fiberglass Door That Has Been Stained?

So you want to enhance the look of your home’s exterior but aren’t sure how to paint a stained fiberglass door that has been stained? By choosing the right paint color for your doorway, you may give it a new perspective on life. The only way to improve the attractiveness of your property, in my opinion, is to use a high-quality fiberglass door. It performs a fantastic job of mimicking the appearance of natural wood without cracking, rotting, or warping.

By applying the do-it-yourselfers method, anyone can easily re-paint or stain fiberglass using techniques similar to those used to paint real wood. It’s important to remember that this successful paint job for fiberglass doors can only be done if the surface is properly prepared.

Things You’ll Need to Do This Task:

Fiberglass doors are available in a wide range of shapes, colors, and stains which is one of the product’s best characteristics. You can trust fiberglass doors to last a long time since they are watertight, strong, and long-lasting. 

You can do your task without any botheration before painting if you gather all your most needed types of equipment. Below, I mention what you will actually need to do this project. 

• Drop cloths;
• Good-quality household cleaner;
• Sponges;
• Painter’s tape;
• 150-grit sandpaper;
• Tack cloth;
• Primer;
• Acrylic paint

Techniques of How to Paint a Fiberglass Front Door:

Do you have to paint a fiberglass door? Don’t worry!!! Below, I write down all the painting methods step by step to make your work easy and hassle-free. 

Step 1

Gather all of your supplies before painting the door, and then lay down drop cloths to cover the floors. After that, if possible, remove the weather stripping from around the door.

Step 2

Using a home cleaner, completely remove all dirt, oils, and debris from the door. If you want a smooth surface, clean it well and make sure there is no debris remaining on the door. 

Step 3 

In this step, to protect glass inserts and hardware from paint, you will need to carefully mask them off using blue painter’s tape in this phase.

Step 4

It is crucial to roughen the surface of the fiberglass door and lightly sand it with 150-grit sandpaper. Sanding is an excellent method for allowing the primer and paint to develop a firmer bond with the door. Wipe away any remaining particles with a tack cloth.

Step 5

Here, you will need to coat the fiberglass door with a high-quality primer so you can get the best and most smooth result. A good-quality primer will help you to prevent the previously applied stain from showing through the paint. As a result, it’s preferable to start with the panels and let the primer dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions. I will recommend waiting at least 2 hours so it can dry properly.

Step 6

Now it’s time to paint the door, so choose the n icest color and remember to apply it in the same manner as the primer. You don’t want to overwork the paintbrush, but you do want to keep a wet edge as you paint. You may be wondering why. It’s because a smoother paint finish is achieved by keeping a moist edge.

Step 7

In the final step you have to give a minimum of 2 hours to allow the paint to thoroughly dry, and for better results apply a second coat.

No need to worry if you do not know how to re-stain a fiberglass exterior door using the best-quality acrylic, polyester, polyurethane, or epoxy resin paint can easily do this task. All you have to do is pick a tint that 100% matches the type of fiberglass. Also, you will need to avoid using any oil-based paints because they can easily damage the door.

Extra Tip

• Before painting, place the door on a flat surface if possible. 
• For best results, it will be great if you paint the door in moderate temperatures on a day when the humidity is low.

What type of paint Use for paint a fiberglass door?

Acrylic paint, Alkyd paint, Bonding primer, Gel stain, and clear varnish are all excellent choices for painting a fiberglass door.

It is essential to remember that several factors influence the best paint to use, including the manufacturer’s recommendations, the condition of the door and the intended look. On the other hand, some fiberglass doors easily can be colored and varnished and it might seem like wood doors. Check the best fiberglass door coatings, which I listed below.

100% Acrylic Paint

Remember that 100 percent acrylic paint is a fine choice unless the manufacturer’s instructions clearly say that water-based paint should not be used.

Alkyd Paint

On fiberglass doors, another paint that works well is alkyd (oil-based) paint. The disadvantage is it takes a long time to dry and makes it impractical for an entry door because you will need to leave the door slightly open while drying.

Bonding Primer

If your fiberglass door is older or has a too shiny and varnished surface, you must need it be primed. Always use a bonding primer, and it is best for exterior use. These bonding primers come in several formulas like oil (it takes time to dry), shellac, and water-based (it takes less time to dry). 

Gel Stain and Clear Varnish

To give them a natural wood look, few fiberglass doors can be tinted with gel stain and then clear varnished. Even while it takes a little longer than painting, the results are definitely worth the effort.

Most Commonly Asked Questions

Conclusion

You now know that the best primer and paint are essential if you want to know how to paint a stained fiberglass door that has been stained. Fiberglass, on the other hand, can protect your door from the weather while also giving it a new look. Fiberglass doors are already energy-efficient and can be expected to endure longer than wooden doors, making them a popular choice among all homeowners, as previously said.

I hope, you find this article helpful and can paint your stained fiberglass door by yourself without any expert help.