You might be surprised at what an impact refreshing your front door can have. It’s a small update, but many homeowners use it to add a renewed look or a pop of color to an otherwise neutral home.

You can change your front door’s color by either painting or staining it. The process is similar, since they both require you to strip the front door, remove the hardware, sand and renew the color. Both methods come with their advantages and drawbacks, so read on to learn about why people choose each option—then call Fresh Start Painting Inc. for front door design or exterior staining in Pensacola, FL.

Painting, as you probably already know, adds a top coat of color to the surface of your door. The paint can chip away or peel, but you can easily touch it up or repaint the entire door. Paint comes in hundreds of colors and several different finishes, making it easy to get the front door of your dreams—whether that’s glossy yellow, matte black or something else entirely.

If you have a high-quality, intricately-carved wooden door, painting might not be the right choice for you. Quality wood has a charm and beauty all its own, and that luster might be better restored with a stain.

If you paint your door and end up wanting to change the color later, you’ll need to completely strip the door of paint. On the other hand, painting allows you to get creative with color, whether you go for something solid or opt for a multi-colored door like you’d see on Victorian homes. Paint offers more color options, better coverage and more finishes to choose from, so if you want to achieve a specific color vision, you’re better off opting for paint.

Staining your front door ensures that the color will penetrate the wood and will not wear away like paint can. Typically, this is an easier, faster and cheaper method than painting. It’s also more durable and easier to touch up than if you opt for a painted front door.

If you want to show off the natural beauty of your wooden door, stain is the way to go—but bear in mind that your color selection will be limited to more “natural” colors. Determine whether your home’s exterior is suited for a plain wooden door before opting for a stain—although it will refresh the way your home and door look, it won’t drastically change the appearance like a fresh coat of paint might.

Ultimately, whether you choose to paint or stain will come down to aesthetics for most people. If you’re happy with your wooden door, opt to stain it for a fresh look—but if you want something drastically different or a color that doesn’t occur in nature, choose paint.

For your exterior staining or front door design needs in Pensacola, FL, reach out to the team at Fresh Start Painting Inc. today to schedule a consultation.