Should You Paint or Stain Your Front Door?
When you paint your home, your front door is the icing on the cake.
It’s a small amount of real estate, but it has a huge impact on your curb appeal. And, the options are endless. Should it be a bold pop of color, or a subdued classic? Should it be a monochromatic complement to your body color, or stand out in a subtle way that gives it its own personality and charm?
But first, you have to ask yourself the ultimate question: should you paint or stain your front door?
Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons to help you make a more informed decision.
If You Don’t Have a Strong Preference, Go with Paint
Why? We’re glad you asked! A well-painted front door looks fantastic, offers strong surface protection and value, and it can be completed at a fraction of the cost of staining.
To put it in more drastic terms, in most cases paint will last 10 times longer and cost 90-98% less than wood refinishing. To be brutally honest, most homeowners don’t know what they’re really signing up for when they choose to have a finished front door.
Why Is Staining a Door So Much More Expensive Than Painting?
It all comes down to labor and maintenance costs. A high-quality wood refinishing project will cost anywhere between $450 and $1250, and can be even much more expensive depending on the level of detail within the door. And then, for proper maintenance you will likely spend $225-600 per year.
Can you find someone to do it more cheaply? Yes, definitely! The downside is that the results just won’t stand up to use and the elements the way they should. The industry standard, unfortunately, is to lightly sand the surface and apply one coat (sometimes two) of a 2-in-1 stain/polyurethane product. This looks good for a while, but not for long! 3-4 months later it will start to show its age…
To do it right takes dedication, skill, and involves much more expense. For a full breakdown of our procedure, please visit our door refinishing overview here!
What’s the Benefit of a Stained Front Door?
Well, if cost is not an option, the warmth, charm, and character of a natural front door is unparalleled. That’s really what it comes down to. This is especially true when you hire an experienced, professional painting company to handle your project. We won’t lie or be falsely humble: the doors we refinish here at Nash Painting are absolutely stunning!
Do you have any more questions about paint vs. stain, or how best to enhance your home’s surfaces? Give us a call! We’d love the opportunity to serve you.