There are dozens of paintable surfaces both inside and outside your home. When you’re redecorating, your walls, floors, ceilings, and doors are the big jobs you naturally gravitate towards. Outside there are fences, patios, sheds, and garage doors, all of which benefit from fresh paint every now and then.
But once these are covered, there’s plenty more you can do. You can paint skirting boards, kitchen cupboards, as well as furniture (including garden furniture!) that all combine together to make every room look amazing and your garden ready for guests this summer.
One surface that is often overlooked is your doorstep. Whether it’s covered by a mat or left bare, doorsteps go through a lot and deserve a freshen up with some hard-wearing paint. Today we’re going to discuss what the best paint for doorsteps is, and how to make yours look fantastic.
Can you Paint Stone Steps?
Most doorsteps are made of stone or brick, two materials that look great after a coat of paint. Although stone is a tough material, even the more porous varieties, the material will wear out over time.
Wooden doorsteps are less common but are still just as easy to paint. For these we recommend a tough oil-based wood paint or oil-based woodstain that will resist the wear and tear.
Your doorstep is constantly being stepped on by both people and pets, which wears out the surface faster than other floors inside your home. It can also be scuffed and scratched by bags, furniture, or even dropped keys. This damage adds up and can ruin the look of your doorstep if ignored.
Thankfully, we have a solution.
What is the Best Paint for Outdoor Steps?
Our all-purpose masonry paint is the perfect paint for any stone steps. And if yours is made from wood, our range of external wood paints will all get the job done.
Many paints require you to identify the material you’re planning to paint before you begin. This is because different paints have different levels of adhesion; some will cling to the surface while others will look thin or streaky even after multiple layers.
This isn’t the case with our masonry paint. Its compound is designed to cling to any stone or brick surface, providing the ideal finish every time. If you want extra adhesion, you can apply a layer of primer as an undercoat. Oil-based Primer sticks to the surface even better than paint and gives you a much smoother surface to paint onto – ideal if your doorstep is made from a rougher material or is worn out.
Preparing a Doorstep for Painting
This is the most important part of any painting process. If the surface is marked, stained, or has dents and cracks, these imperfections will show through even multiple layers of thick paint. If ignored your doorstep won’t look like new, and you’ll have wasted both time and money.
Some doorsteps will look better than they actually are. Scuffs and dents aren’t obvious until the surface has been cleaned properly and might only show up under close scrutiny.
You should always clean the surface as thoroughly as possible before you begin painting. This will reveal any imperfections so you can decide if repairs are necessary or if you can get straight to painting. Dirt and grime build up quickly on a doorstep, regardless of whether it was protected with a mat or not, and this will ruin your paint’s adhesion unless it’s cleaned. Most of the time soap, water, and a bit of elbow grease is all you need, but if your doorstep has been painted previously you need to remove that with paint stripper before you commit to a new layer.
Once the surface has been prepared, you’re ready to start painting. The amount of time this project will take depends on the following factors:
- The size of the doorstep
- The paint you’re using
- How many layers you need
- The temperature (drying times can be longer in cold weather)
Your paint should be touch dry after 24 hours, but it’s best to avoid walking on it for 48 hours to make sure it is fully dry. It can be tricky to avoid using a doorstep for this length of time, so keep in mind that you’ll need to use another entrance or step over it whenever you or others enter or leave the house.
This mild frustration is more than worth it though, as your doorstep will soon be looking better than new.
Best Colour for Doorsteps
Choosing the right colour for doorsteps often comes down to what colours you’ve used elsewhere. For example, if you’ve painted your front door green, you’ll want a shade that compliments it, like a neutral grey or other shade of green. We find that, since your doorstep isn’t a major feature of the exterior of your home, neutral shades are best as they don’t draw the eye away from doors, door frames, and walls. But if you want to do something bold, don’t let us stop you!
Our masonry paint is part of our colour system so you can paint it any colour you can imagine. Sometimes it can be tricky to find a shade that matches your doors or walls; never the case with Paintmaster.
The UK’s Most Trusted Paint Provider
Your doorstep is one of the last surfaces you’ll think to paint, and understandably so. However it’s one of the first things guests see when they visit your home, and you yourself will see it multiple times per day, even if it’s just for a few seconds.
Painting your doors and door frames will only make your worn-out doorstep stand out more, so make sure to add it to your list of painting projects so it doesn’t let the side down.
If you have any questions about us or our products, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you!