Cheerful Tudor

Our Cheerful Tudor!

The front door to our house was looking awfully sad. It was faded, wood rotted, and our door handle would constantly get stuck with the 1930’s hardware. The Front Door is the most important element on the exterior of a home. It should stand out and say "welcome". Changing the front door’s color is the easiest way to make an inexpensive mark on our home’s personality. And it was time for our change.

I was introduced to Modern Masters Front Door Paint and I can tell you first hand that this paint is hands down the best outdoor paint I have ever used. This paint is non-fading, water based, and quick to dry – what more can I ask for from a front door paint!? I painted and closed my door on the same day!

Modern Masters has a GORGEOUS collection of Front Door Paints. I was skeptical of the Never-Fade technology as anyone would be but listen to these fun facts:

Modern Masters paints are used on most Disney theme park rides, The Hollywood Bowl, Dolby theater in Hollywood, the giant Oscar statues on the red carpet (not the actual Oscars!), and Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle – how cool is that!? That is all the proof I need that this paint will last on my front door.

There are two parts to transform our front door from Before to After:

1.     Installing new hardware & repairing the door

2.     Painting the Door

Before & After - Front Door Transformation

Items Needed:

Door Repair & New Hardware Items

• Kwikset Front Door Handle (Arlington Handle Set with Tustin Lever in Venetian Bronze)
• Gorilla Glue & Rubber Gloves
• Plywood
• Wood Filler 
• Putty Knife
• Sandpaper
• Hand Wood Planer
• Trigger clamps
• Oscillating tool

Paint the Door Items

• Kilz Premium Primer
• Modern Masters Front Door Paint - Cheerful Color
• Paint Tray & Roller
• Paint Brush
• Blue Painter's Tape

Part 1 – Installing new hardware & repairing the door

Step 1: Remove all door hardware

Old door hardware to be removed

Step 2: Cut block to cover old hardware hole and trace

Block insert to be installed

Step 3: Cut out hole for block

Cut new hole with oscillating tool

Hole cut for block insert

Step 4: Cut block to insert into old hardware slot

Block insert for hardware slot

Dry fit block insert for hardware slot

Step 5: Glue all blocks in place

This took several hours as each piece needed to be clamped into place while the gorilla glue dried.

Gorilla glue used for block inserts

Use rubber gloves with gorilla glue on block inserts

Clamp block inserts while glue dries

Final decorative insert to cover old hardware slot

Step 6: Wood plane and scrape door

Use a putty knife and a hand wood planer to get a smooth surface where needed.

Hand planer used to smooth surface of door

Step 7: Install wood filler

Wood filler applied with putty knife

Old door rot

Wood filler along bottom of door to repair door

Wood filler applied where needed on door

Step 8: Sand door as needed

Step 9: Cut new holes for new door hardware

Use Blue Painter's Tape to prevent splintering of wood.

Hole saw with jig used to cut new hardware holes

Blue Painter's Tape used to prevent splintering of wood

New latch hole cut out

Part 2 – Painting the Door

Step 1: Clean door

Wipe down door

Step 2: Tape windows

Blue Painter's Tape on window for clean paint lines

Step 3: Prime door

Kilz Primer base

Complete Kilz Primer base

Step 4: Paint door - 2 coats

Cheerful Modern Masters paint

Modern Masters door paint

Step 5: Install new hardware

New Kwikset door hardware

Final Step: Enjoy!!

Final door with new Kwikset hardware and paint color