Composite doors are incredibly popular, and it’s not really surprising considering the fact they are durable, lightweight, and available in a variety of colours and styles. Whether you’ve had a composite door for a number of years now or are still deciding if it’s right for you and your home, you may be wondering; can you paint composite doors?
As tastes change and the colour and condition of composite doors like other doors, deteriorates over time, it’s not surprising you may want to switch things up with a new coat of paint. Can you though?
That’s what we’re going to find out in this post.
Is it OK to Paint a Composite Door?
The answer is, yes, you can. But, the real question you should be asking is “should you?”
Why do we say that?
When you research this subject you’ll find there are varying answers to this commonly asked question but we feel “can you paint composite doors or not?” is just one of the questions that come into play.
Let's first think about what a composite door is and what it is made of before rushing into repainting it.
Composite doors are made of a combination of materials, including PVC, insulating foam and glass-reinforced plastic.
GRP is the final layer and the material you would painting onto.
composite door fitted by AffWindows
It’s also important to realise the colour of the composite door is incorporated into the plastic skin when it is being manufactured.
This is the method of choice because it stops the colour from flaking, chipping, or cracking due to normal wear and tear.
This is obviously very different to traditional timber doors that have a coating of paint over the top as a finishing touch.
The first thing you'll need to find out is, is your composite door still within its warranty period?
It is best to check if you're not sure because repairing it will normally void the warranty, if you have a valid one.
Want an updated design, as well as a new colour? Get in touch with our friendly team for a no-obligation free quote and advice. We're always happy to chat windows and doors!
How do You Restore Colour to a Composite Door?
Before you decide you need to paint a composite door, you may want to consider a less intensive option, particularly if you are just looking to restore its original colour.
Rather than repainting the whole thing and making a mess, you could invest in a touch-up pen to fill in those grooves and scratches in the door.
Perhaps you're interested in repairing your composite door because the colour has started to fade.
If this is the case, you may not have to do much more than give it a good clean.
Remember, we highlighted the fact the colour runs deep through the entire composite door glass-reinforced plastic and the entire composite door during the manufacturing process.
One of the easiest ways to freshen up the door so the original colour shines again is by giving it a good clean with sugar soap.
Can you Polish a Composite Door?
Due to the corrosive nature of sunlight, rain, and other weather conditions, you may be wondering if you can refresh and protect your composite door with polish.
As the outer layer is made from plastic, whether it’s uPVC or GRP, you can’t use traditional polishes.
There are, however, specialist multi-surface restorers that can give it a nice finish.
Dark Navy Composite Door Fitted by AffWindows
Just be sure to double-check that your chosen polish isn't damaging the material of your composite door.
What Paint Should I Use to Paint a Composite Door?
There is a lot of debate about this.
As much debate, in fact, as there is about whether you should actually paint your composite door in the first place.
Whereas some people will tell you that oil-based paints work best, others will argue that solvent paints are best.
If you're in any doubt as to which you should use, you could always speak to the composite door manufacturer or supplier for advice and recommendations.
How to Paint a Composite Door
Painting a composite door is no different than painting any other surface really.
If you have decided you really want to paint a composite door either because you want to change the door colour or it needs a complete refresh and you don't want to invest in a replacement door, then follow the rough guide below for the best results.
Prepare
The preparation part of repainting your composite door is ultimately the most important part of the whole painting process. Get that one part of the process right and everything should go smoothly.
Clean
The first thing you need to do is give your composite door a thorough wash using sugar soap.
This will help to make sure you remove all dirt, grime, oil and any other residue that may make it harder for the paint to adhere to the surface.
You then need to rinse it off with clean water.
Sanding
You then need to sand down the door all over as that will further help the paint to adhere. After you have sanded it, you then need to give it a thorough wipe down to remove the dust.
Painting
Whether you need a primer, will depend on the type of paint you are going to use. Always follow the instructions.
Depending on the original colour and the type of paint you use, you will have to give your composite door at least one or two coats.
Finish
After you have finished giving it the full coats of paint, you are nearly there.
For the final step, you should use beeswax or another similar product to give your newly painted door a protective layer for the materials and a professional finish.
Whether you should or shouldn't paint a composite door is really up to you as an individual.
The Alternatives to Painting a Composite Door Yourself
If you are not confident that you would be able to paint your door to a professional standard, especially if it's your front door and has maximum exposure, you may want to hire specialists who have experience painting a composite door.
Ultimately, to get the perfect look for your door that you want, we would always recommend considering a replacement composite front door or back door.
This way, not only can you change the colour of your door, but also update to a new style and design of door for your house.
Replacement front doors are by far the quickest and easiest way, in our experience, to give your composite door the refresh it really needs, in the door colour you like.
