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Painting front door.

16 years ago

My door has been painted black for many years and I've never had a problem with it. It is completely shaded. However, my friend got a new front door about a year ago and painted it black. We both live in So. California and in the winter she gets the extreme south sun baking on the bottom half of her door. It blistered and peeled last year. The painter came back and repainted it. The sun is creeping up the door now and it looks as if it is going to blister again. What is the remedy. Is there a better paint?

Thanks,, SharB

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Comments (7)

Michael
16 years ago
In order for a black door to survive ( I sell about 10 a year), it's best to buy it with the factory finish.

The prep required to make it last is too extensive to be done in the field. The least bit of adhesion problem will result in a failure every time.

If your friend can remove the door and have it sanded, primed and finished in a factory setting or body shop, it should last much longer.

Michael
paintguy22
16 years ago
If you don't take it somewhere to get finished, Fine Paints of Europe makes an oil based exterior paint that will last longer than the acrylics for black doors.
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Faron79
16 years ago
Hot, Hot, Hot!!!
Wow!! A Black door "looks" dang neat, BUT jeez...how do ya deal with a "hotter than h@ll" door at 5pm?!?!?

It's the LAST color I'd use on a South OR West door...UNLESS it was shaded by something ALL the time. Black is just a heat-sink. I don't see how any method of BRUSH painting will help in this case!

The temp-change alone would eventually work off any BRUSH APPLIED "black" finish IMO...because of the greater-than-normal thermal movement that the dark color causes.

As the guys' above said...the automotive prep method/painting is the only chance, IF they're set on a black door.
>>> Is the door metal??

Faron
Michael
16 years ago
Faron,

It doesn't get that hot. Really.

Precision Entry is the only supplier I use for entry doors and I've got quite a few in the field with absolutely no callbacks....yet..shhhhhhhhhhh

They are a company that tests, tests, tests before they release a product color. The paint was formulated by them, not for them. Black is beautiful, baby. :)

Michael
weed_cutter
16 years ago
My south facing wooden entry door has been painted black for 10 years, no peeling or chalking. Slight loss of gloss. Valspar acrylic semi-gloss. Full Florida sun.
Faron79
16 years ago
Wow! I like black doors too, but...WOW!...WC's door is surviving in Florida?!?!?

(Can't help but think of that cool 'Stones song...
"I've got a red door and I want to paint it black...")

I used to have a '81 Black Turbo Trans-Am....Jesus....whenever I opened the door in August...owwwwch!

Faron
sharburk
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you very much for the responses. I have passed all of them along to my friend. I'll let her take it from here, but it doesn't sound very encouraging.

SharB

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