Make an impact on the doorstep (From The Northern Echo)

Whatever people say, sometimes looks do matter – especially on your home’s front door. Julia Gray looks at how to make the right first impression

POINTING out that the front door is one of the first things visitors see of your home sounds like a very obvious statement – but it’s a statement that can often be overlooked.

Because people become so focused on bigger DIY projects – be it converting lofts or installing fancy new kitchens – that one humble, simple door can easily be forgotten.

Think what a difference a simple door, when it is smart, bright and stylish, can make to your home – and what you can do if, on closer inspection, your front door is not smart or bright or stylish.

The easiest thing to do is change the door furniture – chrome or satin nickel is more fashionable than brass and gives a smart, contemporary look, suited to period and modern doors. Get metal door numbers to match, or consider frosted-film numbers if you have a glazed or partially glazed door or porch. They can be fiddly to fit, but they look stunning.

Paint on exterior doors has a tendency to crack and flake, letting in water as well as making a poor first impression. If your front door’s paintwork is tatty, start by removing it from its hinges and taking off the door furniture.

Use a wood scraper to remove any flaking or cracked paint, then sand smooth and apply flexible exterior wood filler to the repairs. Sand it – and the rest of the door – when set. Wood filler dries fairly quickly anyway, but at this time of year, quick-drying DIY products are an asset, so look for a water-based or quick-drying oil-based exterior wood paint for the door.

Painting the door a different colour can make a big difference to your home’s frontage. Ideally, the colour should go with the building’s brickwork, paintwork or other exterior finish, and suit its age and style of architecture. While some classic colours, such as red, black and dark blue, remain popular for front doors, there are also colour trends – greys, duck-egg blues and greens are fashionable at the moment.

Apply a coat or two of exterior wood primerundercoat (preferably quick-drying) and once dry, rub down the door with fine sandpaper to remove any dust and debris, then wipe over with a damp cloth. When dry, this will create a good surface for the topcoat to adhere to and should ensure a better finish.

For the topcoat, use an exterior wood paint (again, preferably quick-drying) and apply to all the exposed surfaces, including the top and bottom edges. Missing these will mean that water seeps in over time, causing the wood to shrink and expand.

When the first coat is completely dry, apply a second coat, if necessary. (To see a how-to video on painting an exterior panelled door, visit sandtex.co.uk).

If your front door is beyond repair, you’ll need to replace it, but before you go out and buy a new door, check the rules and regulations. The door may need to comply with building regulations, particularly if it is glazed.

And if you live in a listed building, you may need consent from your local council’s conservation department to alter the door, even in a small way. Restrictions can also apply if your home is on “designated land”, which includes conservation areas.

Again, the local council will be able to tell you what you can and can’t do – planning permission may be required to replace a front door, for example, or even only to paint it a different colour.

Similarly, if your home is leasehold, you may need the freeholder’s permission to change the front door, or it may belong to the freeholder and not you – check your lease carefully if in doubt.

Replacing a front door can be tricky for DIYers, because new doors take quite a bit of adjusting to fit the size of the frame, which can be both frustrating and time-consuming. It’s probably worth getting in professional help. Fitting the locks can also be a challenge, so getting a carpenter in is often advisable, because as well as looking good, your door must, of course, be practical and up to the job of keeping your home safe and secure.

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How to...

IF you’re sanding wooden floorboards and have a mix of old and new boards in one room, paint them or use a dark varnish or wood stain to best disguise the difference.