How to Paint Metal Doors with Plastic Trim

Yes, you can paint a metal door with plastic trim! Here’s exactly how to prep, paint, and get a smooth, long-lasting finish. It can be simple and quick with the right products!

I’m not a stranger to painting weird surfaces. I’ve painted 70’s paneling, barker board in a bathroom, stained wood walls, fabric, and even wallpaper.

But, I admit. I was a little stumped with painting metal doors with plastic door trim.

Since I am only able to paint the inside of our doors (it’s a strata situation), I started researching how to paint both metal and plastic for interior use.

The process seemed quite simple, with the key ingredient being the proper primer.

It worked like a charm!

Here’s how to paint metal doors with plastic trim:

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Gather the Supplies Needed:

• Painter’s tape
• Cleaning Cloth
• Drop cloths (or old towels can be used in a pinch)
• Step Stool (If you’re short like me…)
• Paint brush (This is my absolute favourite!)
• 4 inch foam roller and roller tray
• Benjamin Moore Aqua Lock Primer
• 1 Quart Benjamin Moore Latex Paint in Pearl Finish (I chose Regal Select in the color “Raccoon Fur”)
• Utility Knife
• Screwdriver to loosen or remove door handles

Prep the exterior door and plastic trim for painting:

 Clean the door surface well

Paint does not like to stick to dirt or grease! Clean off the door thoroughly. (I used my Norwex cloth and water for this step.)

 Remove door handles (if you desire to) or tape around them carefully with painter’s tape. Tape off the inside of the window panels using painters tape.

Although I find this step to be slightly annoying and time consuming, I did find that it saved time in the long run. I removed the door handles, as we were replacing them. However, if you aren’t replacing the handles, I would just loosen them slightly and tape around them carefully.

Prime the metal door and plastic trim.

I used Benjamin Moore’s Aqua Lock primer for this step. The primer is a key ingredient for painting both metal doors and plastic trim. It is applied just like the paint is, and must be dry before painting the finished paint color over the top. Here’s the method I used when priming:

Using this brush, prime around the window trim first. Then, prime the insides of the recessed areas of the door. While the paint is still wet, use a foam roller to finish off the door.

I did a Facebook live while I did this part if you’d like to see the process in action.;)

Once the primer is dry, paint the door the color of your choice.

I again painted in a systematic order, trying to work neatly and quickly, as it is much better to do all the steps while the paint is wet. (They call it “keeping a wet edge”). All along the way, I tried to watch carefully for any drips that might want to form ~ especially in the corners of the windows.

I started with the window trim,

then the recessed areas,

and then, using a foam roller, I filled in the recessed areas, and  moved on to the bottom half of the door:

And then the top half:

Once it was completely dry, I did a second coat to finish it off nicely.

Once the paint is totally dry, run a utility knife around the edges of the painter’s tape before removing it!

This is a VERY important step. I talk about it in this short Facebook live:

This space was a little boring before…

And this new color has given it so much life!

This post was part of the Exterior Door Makeover series I did. Click here to see our front door entrance makeover!

Other Painting Tips & Tricks:

• How to make chalk paint with baking soda
• How to paint straight lines (using painters tape)
• A paint supplies list for everything you’ll need to paint a room
• Can you paint over stained wood?