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Home Decorating

Front Entry Door - Paint or Replace?

barbarahouseideas

3 years ago

We are about to paint the exterior of our almost 40 year old home. The shutters and doors are black and the cedar siding (sides, rear and dormers) is a putty color. We are planning on keeping the same color scheme. The double front entry doors are wood and original to the house. We are considering just painting them again to save the expense of replacement. (maybe a different color to brighten up the porch area?) However, I am thinking that a fiberglass door (stained or painted) would be much more energy efficient, less maintenance and would allow for a change in the style of the door. If we replace, I am leaning toward doors with 3/4 glass and 6 grid areas on top. Another possibility is to replace with a single door and sidelights. My inability to picture what would look best with our home is making this a very difficult decision. Please help! Paint or Replace?

I would love to hear suggestions. Thanks in advance!

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Comments (2)

Jilly
3 years ago
What a beautiful home and setting! I’m sorry I don’t have advice (I love your current doors), just wanted to suggest reposting and tagging a couple of other boards, such as Design Dilemma and Exterior, for examples. There are some posters who frequent those boards and are very skilled at exterior mock-ups.

Good luck!
barbarahouseideas thanked Jilly
Fori
3 years ago

I can't believe I'd say this, but stylewise I don't think your existing doors are quite perfect. One is fine, but it doesn't work as well as a double door. I think the doors you are thinking of would be a fabulous upgrade appearance-wise. You could do a sidelight but I think the double door works nicely, and you'd get plenty of extra light with the new style.

If you keep the doors, which are certainly nice enough, consider a brighter color. The black is elegant but if you think it feels too dark, an easy, traditional choice would be red. (The particular shade might not be so easy!)

I guess paint color goes for new or repainting, but the new ones won't be as dark due to all the glass so I'd keep them black.

I think the fake wood doors look pretty bad when "stained". If your climate doesn't allow for actual wood, don't stain it please!

Before painting, be sure to get LARGE samples painted on posterboard or something to see if it looks right.
barbarahouseideas thanked Fori
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