DIY Tips

When we buy a property, we often inherit a front door we’re not particularly keen on. It’s only natural to want to replace – or at least redecorate – this, making your own personal stamp on the first thing that you and your visitors see.
A Generic Photo of beam around the front door being painted. See PA Feature HOMES Homes Column. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/thinkstockphotos. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature HOMES Homes Column.A Generic Photo of beam around the front door being painted. See PA Feature HOMES Homes Column. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/thinkstockphotos. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature HOMES Homes Column.
A Generic Photo of beam around the front door being painted. See PA Feature HOMES Homes Column. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/thinkstockphotos. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature HOMES Homes Column.

The easiest way to personalise and update a front door is, of course, to paint it. Ideally, the colour of the door should go with the house’s other exterior woodwork and the brickwork or render, and the style of the door should suit the house’s age and architecture.

Quick-drying exterior wood paint is the best option because you need to take the door off its hinges to access all the edges, and quick-drying paint should enable you to finish the job in a day.

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Don’t forget to paint the top and bottom edges to prevent water seeping in, but don’t apply too much paint because the door may be hard to open and close afterwards.

If there’s no alternative but to replace the door, sadly this can be tricky and time-consuming.

New doors take quite a bit of adjusting and the door frame may need to be altered or replaced.

The other problem is fitting the locks – you don’t want to compromise your home’s security, so get in a carpenter or locksmith if you’re not sure what you’re doing.

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Changing or fitting exterior doors may seem straightforward, but rules and regulations apply. Different planning rules can apply in conservation areas and areas of outstanding natural beauty. Some houses may even need planning permission to paint the front door, let alone replace it.