Hey DIY Team!
Here is another quick and easy solution to make your home standout. Just under $100 for a whole new look - only $35 for the paint kit, $47 for the exterior door hardware and $16 for the wreath! The whole process took me about 5 hours including dry time, so if you start early enough in the day, you do not have to stress about the security of your home!
The Products:
Giani Wood Look Paint Kit for Front & Interior Doors (Honey Oak)
Rating: 10/10
Price: $34.86
Link: https://amzn.to/2SlhEni
The faux wood paint kit came with everything that I needed for one side of the door, paint brush, roller, drop cloth, painter's tape, paint, paint stirrers & a mitt for the wood grain texture. I did not need to purchase anything for this project because I already had a paint tray & paint key. This kit comes with detailed instructions which I recommend reading a few times thoroughly before starting. They also have a nifty tutorial video that I watched many times before beginning. https://youtu.be/NNTxj9TjjOY
Ilyapa Exterior Door Handleset - Modern, Matte Black Low Profile Lock Set Front Door Handle with Single Cylinder Deadbolt and Halifax Lever, Matte Black
Rating: 7/10
Price: $46.57
Link: https://amzn.to/3pKkfDc
I was very frugal when it came to picking the door hardware. The most important feature for me when selecting the hardware was the color Matte Black. In the past, I would say security/smart features are the most important factors when choosing door hardware, but we already had a smart doorbell installed and we don’t typically have to let in guests without us being home so the least expensive hardware with the most curb appeal is what we settled on.
This handleset came with EVERYTHING; deadbolt, interior lever, exterior handle, hardware, keys, etc. When you’re looking for hardware, you will want to keep this in mind. Many kits do not come with all the parts and pieces you need. The reason I gave it a lower rating is because the screws that came with the kit were absolute trash. My biggest regret (and only regret) of the entire project was not using my own screws to install the door hardware. I installed the door hardware backwards, so you have to turn the handle to close the door instead of it gliding on its own. I’m not going to lie, this bothers the crap out of me. The screws are completely stripped so I cannot uninstall and reinstall at the moment, but a stripped screw kit is on the way from Amazon. Here is your ProTip if you haven’t caught on yet: when you buy this kit I would highly recommend using your own screws!
CEWOR 19 Inches Artificial Green Leaf Eucalyptus Wreath Spring Summer Outdoor Ornaments for Front Door Wall Window Farmhouse Décor
Rating: 10/10
Price: $15.99
Link: https://amzn.to/3gdQcAF
I wanted something summery and fresh looking! This did the job and it was very affordable and arrived from Amazon in just a few days! It’s light enough for a command hook to hold it up which I love!!
The Process:
Overall this was a VERY easy DIY – especially after doing the marble epoxy countertops (check out the link here if you haven’t yet https://www.designer-realestate.com/post/marble-countertops-for-under-250) With dry time the whole project only took me about 5 hours.
Prep: 1 hour
I went above and beyond with prep work. I made sure all the hinges were taped and precisely cut along the edges with a box cutter. I also taped around the peephole to make sure that wasn’t damaged during the process, I cleaned the door with Krud Kutter & Windex, and removed the door hardware, filled in the existing hole for the bottom screw to keep the exterior handle in place. I’m aware it takes me longer than most to do prep work but I am of the belief (with everything I do) that what you put in upfront saves you on the back end.
Base Paint: 1.5 hours
This was BY FAR the easiest part of the process. There really is not much to write about - apply two coats of base paint and you’re onto the next step! You will want to wait at least 30 minutes between each coat. The video shows you the technique. If you have a paneled door like mine, you will want to go around the detailed edges with a paint brush first then roll the paint around it to even everything out. After you finish the base coats you will want to wait a full hour before prepping for your panels.
Vertical & Horizontal Panel Prep: 30 min
Probably went above and beyond with this step too… I don’t know if I needed to waste all of the tape I did for this step. It probably would have saved me a bit of time and a lot of tape if I were to cut out pieces of kraft paper that would fit the panel sizes and then just tape the edges. I talked about this in my last blog; I really love frog tape instead of the standard painter’s tape. It gives you that very satisfying peel at the end, it’s strong and won’t rip yet gentle on the surface you stick it to (here’s a link https://amzn.to/3ziQVYV). The directions will help guide you on which panels should have vertical grains and which should have horizontal grain but if you are having trouble figuring it out drop a photo in the comments section and I’ll get you taken care of!
Wood Grain: 2 hours
This was the most stressful part of the process, but I promise you it is not hard, you’re just overthinking it (like I was.) I would suggest trying out the technique on a large piece of cardboard before going to the door. You’ll need to get the “perfect amount” of paint on the mitt – it’s a medium amount; not too little but not too much. ***DO NOT DO MORE THAN 1-2 PASSES*** You want to keep your strokes consistent. It is very easy to over work; you will know you’ve over worked it when you no longer see the top coat grain paint and you see large sections of the base coat. At this point you need to wait for it to dry for at least 30 minutes and then try again.. This is why I recommend only 1-2 full length strokes. You have 2 ProTips on this one: Watched the video until you feel comfortable and practice on cardboard before you take on the door.
Final Thoughts:
Travis was apprehensive right after I finished the door. There were a few areas that he was very concerned about but luckily once it fully dried none of those areas stood out. The door coloring was definitely different once it was cured.. but in a good way! I would say it was a little more saturated in color with less contrast between the base paint and the top grain paint which made my errors disappear. I’m super happy with the results. I had a neighbor I hadn’t met yet spark a conversation with me about the door. From a distance she said she had seen me working on it and was impressed. She figured I sanded down the whole thing and stained it. She had no idea it was just paint!
This could be a fantastic cost-effective upgrade before we sell your home! Contact us today and let’s talk about other easy enhancements we can work on to ensure we receive top dollar!
If you’ve made it this far.. let me know in the comments what color you think I should paint the interior of the door. I was thinking Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black! Would love to hear if you have any other fun ideas!
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