How to Paint a Traditional Georgian Front Door
A glossy, heritage-colour front door is the defining feature of British Georgian and Victorian terraces. Done properly with oil-based eggshell or modern waterborne trim paint, the finish mimics the depth of traditional lead paint - without the hazard. Here is the professional decorator's sequence.
Remove ironmongery and strip flaking paint
Unscrew the letterplate, knocker, numerals, and knob - trying to cut in around them never looks crisp. Scrape loose paint, then sand the whole door with 120-grit then 180-grit abrasive. Heritage doors pre-1960 may contain lead; wet-sand only and dispose of debris via the council's hazardous waste service.
Fill defects and prime knots
Fill split panels and stopped holes with a two-pack wood filler (Repair Care Dry Flex is the conservation standard); shallow dents take a flexible acrylic caulk. Brush shellac-based knotting solution onto every softwood knot - resin bleed will ruin a finished door within a season.
Apply one coat of adhesion primer-undercoat
Use a premium water-based primer-undercoat (Dulux Trade Diamond Primer Undercoat, Zinsser Bullseye 1-2-3). Brush in the direction of the grain using a synthetic filament brush. Allow 6 hours to dry, then de-nib with 240-grit abrasive paper and dust off.
Brush two coats of trim eggshell or gloss
For the traditional soft sheen, use a modified-alkyd eggshell (Little Greene Intelligent Eggshell, Farrow & Ball Exterior Eggshell) in a heritage colour such as Railings, Hague Blue, or Studio Green. For classic high gloss, use an oil-modified waterborne trim paint. Flow the paint off a laid-on brush in long strokes - panels first, then mouldings, rails, and stiles - and tip off lightly along the grain.
Refit ironmongery and polish
Leave the door overnight before refitting the letterplate, number, and knocker. Tighten screws snugly but not hard - compressing fresh paint film prints visible rings around the fittings. Buff the hardware with a brass or chrome polish; clean lines and bright metal complete the kerb appeal.
Put it into practice!
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