Repainting (composite) front door

[garmcqui]

Hi all,

3 year old house, the front door is a metal composite (I believe) and the sun has started to yellow parts of it (see photo).



I would like to repaint it, but keep it white. What suggestions do people have regarding type of paint to use please? Does it need to be sanded down/prepared in other ways?

Many thanks!

G

 

[opps]

The yellow parts look like uPVC. I have never seen it yellow in such short a short time span. Does it have a warranty?

You need special paints for hard plastics such as uPVC, normal paints will not adhere probably and will be prone to scratching.

http://www.kolorbond.co.uk/kolorbond-paint-plastic-pvc-upvc

The above is available in aerosol tins. I haven't used it and there are many other brands that you may want to look at.

Good luck.

 

[garmcqui]

Thanks for replying,

Looking at it closely, I believe the yellow parts are wood, as is the frame etc. Does that change things?

 

[garmcqui]

This, perhaps?

https://www.screwfix.com/p/zinsser-all-coat-exterior-paint-white-1ltr/5946g

 

[opps]

Thanks for replying,

Looking at it closely, I believe the yellow parts are wood, as is the frame etc. Does that change things?

Ok, I assumed that it was uPVC because exterior gloss seldom yellows. It is a lack of ultraviolet light that causes paints to yellow. Not normally an issue outdoors.

At the risk of offending your powers of deduction (which is honestly not my intention), have you tried to sand a small section of it or used your fingernail to see if you can leave a slight dent.

I do not recall ever seeing a metal skinned door with timber glazing beads. Then again though, I have only worked in a handful of houses with metal composite doors.

If it is timber, you can pretty much use any exterior wood/metal paint. I have never used the Zinsser paint that you linked to. I did see someone else use it on their place this year and will watch it over time to see how it stands up. Hopefully other members will be able to give you their experience of using it.

My biggest reservation is that they only guarantee it for 2 years. Dulux Trade oil based gloss is rated at 8 years (but with no definitive guarantee).

From the Q&As on the screwfix site, someone else asks about painting metal, the response from the Zinsser rep is-

"Hi. Thank you for your recent enquiry
Yes, the All Coat would be suitable for application to a previously painted surface. If the metal is powder coated you will need to lightly abrade the surface to aid the key of the All Coat Our best recommendation would be to ensure that the surface has been prepared sufficiently i.e., with hot soapy water then rinsed with fresh warm water to remove detergent and when dry a good wipe with methylated spirit. 2 coats are recommended to be applied by a brush or roller and allowing 1 hour between coats".

 

[garmcqui]

Experience really is everything! You’re right

On (even) closer inspection, at appears to be textured pvc, possible designed to look like wood almost?



The House came, as all new builds do, with a 2yr warranty. But that has expired now .

So, it’s specialist paint for that part then. Hmmmm

 

[opps]

Thanks for double checking.

Yes, it definitely looks like uPVC.

If there is a maker's name on the door, it might be worthwhile talking to them. They are unlikely to want you to name and shame them on the web/Twitter/Facebook etc (not that I am maligning them and suggesting that they would not have bent over backwards to resolve things regardless).

If you do go down the spray tin path, I recommend the blue UV resistant tape from Toolstation

https://www.toolstation.com/shop/Pa...Professional+UV+Resistant+Masking+Tape/p30227

It is only £1.89 and the glue won't go rock hard in the sunlight. It is the best value on the market. You can use it with newspaper or lining paper to cover the glass and rest of the door.

Please do re-post with feedback once you have finished. It is through shared experiences that sites such as this one help other people. I have never used the uPVC paints, I assume that they have self etching properties but await your post.

Best of luck.

Opps

 

[garmcqui]

Just been speaking with a neighbour, and he has painted his light grey using dulux weathershield. He says it seems to have taken to the plastic ok. Guess there’s no way to tell but wait and see.

Looks nice though. Hmmmm

 

[garmcqui]

Oh, and this is the only name I can see anywhere on the door, but not sure if it’s just the multi lock system?

 

[Mr Chibs]

I've just painted two composite doors with Leyland Acrylic Satin.

Both have covered well.
The doors looked like a plywood texture.

Will try to take pics tomorrow.

I did struggle getting a clean edge when I removed the tape from the glass... my bother reckons Frog tape is what to use.

 

[alan333]

Composite door glazing is held in place by a "glazing cassette", like these...

https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/browse/window-and-joinery-hardware/glazing-cassettes

...and they can be replaced. They're in two pieces (an exterior and interior 'frame') which screw together to sandwich the glazing panel thus holding it in place. You should be able to see small screw hole inserts around the frame inside the house. If you remove the inserts and the screws the inner frame will be loose and can simply be lifted off. I haven't gone any further on my IG Doors door, but the outer frame is somehow adhered to the door (for waterproofing?), and certainly on mine the outer frame complete with the glazing panel stayed in place with the inner removed. I assume if I'd pryed the outer frame it would have come unstuck somehow.

Your door is probably an IG Doors door too - I don't see a door manufacturer fitting a competitor's door lock mechanism into their doors. Perhaps try contacting IG Doors and enquiring about either their warranty/guarantee terms, or perhaps to buy replacement cassettes. (When I phoned them about replacement decorative glass for my door they wanted the original builder's name and the estate address.)

Alternatively... I painted my (yellowing) plastic cassette with a few coats of emulsion, starting with a light 'streaking' and working up to a full covering coat, then a couple of coats of water based gloss. It's still perfect about 3 years on. As a side note I also did the door the same way but some of it's paint is flaking a bit and needs a better solution.

Hope this helps