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One of the most cost-effective ways to give your home exterior a modern look is by painting the UPVC doors. Is your existing door faded, scratched, or simply older-fashioned? A couple of coats of paint can work wonders.
Is It Possible to Paint UPVC Doors?
The question many homeowners pose is, “Can you paint UPVC doors?” and the answer is, yes, you can. With proper preparation, tools, and paint you can transform the appearance of your front or back door. When properly painted, a UPVC door can appear to be brand new and can serve a number of years.
The suitable type of UPVC paint and proper surface preparation before painting are the secrets to a nice, clean finish that will last a long time.
The assumption by many people is that UPVC (unplasticized polyvinyl chloride) cannot be painted because it is a form of plastic. Indeed, normal wall paints will not adhere to them correctly, but special plastic paints are available in the case of UPVC. The paints are formulated to adhere to smooth plastic surfaces and do not peel, crack, or fade.
Is It Possible to Paint a UPVC Door Frame?
Provided you have the same doorframe as the UPVC door, then yes, you can paint it in the same way as the door. You can paint the frame to make your door look more finished and matched. It comes in handy especially when the original frame color has ceased to blend with the new door color or the surrounding decors
Ensure the frame is:
- Cleaned in and out to remove dirt, grease, and dust.
- Sandpaper is used lightly to rough up the smooth plastic surface.
- It must be dry before you apply primer or paint.
To achieve a smooth and consistent finish, all of these steps should be applied. In order to get a smooth look, cover the surrounding surfaces like walls or floors with masking tape when painting the frame.
How To Paint a UPVC Door
Door painting is not a difficult project, even when it comes to UPVC doors, but it has to be completed thoroughly. To paint the UPVC door correctly follow these steps:
1. Clean Surface.
First, the door should be cleaned perfectly. Scrub with sugar soap, UPVC cleaner, or hot soapy water to remove dust, grease, and any accumulation. Wash and dry completely including the door. A clean surface provides the paint with good adhesion and it will not bubble or peel off in the future.
2. Sand the Door Lightly
Then, sand the whole surface of the door with fine-grit sandpaper (most often 220 grit) being careful not to sand too roughly. UPVC is inherently smooth and a little oily and therefore sanding provides a texture that the primer and paint can better hold onto. Sanding should be followed by wiping the surface with a damp cloth to eliminate the dust.
3. Use a UPVC-compatible Primer
The whole surface should receive a plastic primer or adhesion promoter. This is an important step when you wish the paint to be durable. Select a primer that is recommended especially on plastics and UPVC. Allow the primer to dry thoroughly as indicated by the manufacturer- typically a couple of hours.
4. Paint the Door
After your primer is dry, apply your UPVC paint. You may apply it with a brush, roller, or paint sprayer. Spray painting is the choice of many professionals when a smooth finish is desired. Apply a thin first coat and even. Allow to dry, and then apply a second coat to darken and add more durability.
Apply paint specifically made for UPVC i.e. Zinsser Allcoat or other exterior grade plastic paints. They are weatherproof and elastic, and this implies that they stretch and shrink along with the material without breaking.
5. Let it Dry
The time required to dry depends on the type of paint being used and the weather conditions, however, the average time required between coats of paint is several hours and the paint needs a full 24 hours to fully dry. Do not touch or close the door during this period as it may smudge or mark.
How to Spray Paint a UPVC Door
UPVC door spray painting will provide a perfect factory finish. Professionals prefer to use it since it applies evenly and brush marks are not evident. It is however more delicate and needs more preparation than traditional painting.
How to Spray paint a UPVC Door:
- Wash, sand, and prime the door in the same manner, as you would do for brush painting.
- Tape off the glass panels, handles, floors, and walls with masking tape and sheets.
- A UPVC spray paint of high quality or an airless sprayer with UPVC-compatible paint should be used.
- Spray at 15-20cm distance with sweeping side-to-side motions. Apply the first coat lightly.
- Apply two to three coats, allowing each one to dry completely.
Ensure that you spray in a well-ventilated place and observe all safety considerations.
What Paint to Use on a UPVC Door
Not every paint can be used on plastic. To get the best finish, apply paint that is intended on UPVC or exterior plastics. These paints are weather-resistant, flexible, and adhere well.
The UPVC doors look good with the following paints:
- Zinsser Allcoat Exterior – This comes in satin or gloss and is self-sticking (but it is still advisable to sand).
- Kolorbond UPVC Paint- This is a UPVC and general-purpose plastic surface paint.
- Rust-Oleum All Surface Paint – It can be used on plastic indoors or outdoors.
Get paints with built-in UV resistance, water resistance, and excellent coverage. Do not use regular interior wall paint or wood paint because it will either peel or fade away fast.
UPVC Door Handles-Can You Paint Them?
The answer is that it is possible to paint UPVC door handles although additional precaution is necessary. Handles being high-touch points, the paint used must be tough and wear-resistant.
UPVC door handles can be painted in the following way:
- The handles can be removed, which makes painting easier and cleaner.
- Wash and dry the surface to remove grease.
- Give the handles a light sanding to provide the primer with a grip.
- Primer and spray paint with a plastic then a metal or UPVC spray paint.
- Seal with a transparent topcoat to extend the life of the finish.
Alternatively, handles may concern you in case of paint wear; in this case, you may replace them with new ones of your preferred finish.
Is it Possible to paint a Composite Door with UPVC Paint?
Yes, with precaution it is possible to paint a composite door with UPVC paint. Composite doors are manufactured using UPVC skins, wood, and insulating foam. In case the outer layer of your door is UPVC, then UPVC-compatible paint should do the trick in most cases.
Conclusion
One of the simplest and low-cost alternatives to making your home look new is painting your UPVC door. Making sure you use the correct materials and take your time with each step, is a guaranteed easy and durable finish or perhaps you would prefer to leave it to the professionals, in which case R.S. DECOR will provide a high-quality service painting and spraying UPVC doors in Falkirk, Stirling, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. Allow our experienced staff to do it on your behalf- get in touch with us now and receive a free estimate!
