How to Paint Your Finished Wooden Front Door

Q: I need to paint my wooden front door, which is currently stained. It also has scratches at the bottom from a dog. How do I fill the scratches and prepare the door? -- Jim C.

A: The best way to proceed would be to take the door off its hinges and lay it flat over some sawhorses (you can also do this with the door still in place, but it's easier and results in a better finish if you can lay it down). Sand the door with 80- to 100-grit sandpaper to remove dirt, light scratches, and any clear finish that might be over the stain. Apply a paste-type exterior-rated wood filler over the deeper scratches using a putty knife, allow it to dry, then sand the filled areas. If necessary, repeat this operation.

Now lightly sand the entire door one more time using 120-grit paper. Remove all the dust with a vacuum or by blowing with compressed air, then apply one coat of an exterior-rated wood primer, followed by one or two coats of good-quality exterior paint. If the color you have selected is dark, you can have the primer tinted to a darker shade so that it's easier to cover with the finish paint.