Front Door Painting in Richmond

Timber front doors on period properties require more preparation than any other painted exterior surface. Sanding, priming bare areas, and applying the right finish separates a door that holds for three years from one that starts peeling within twelve months.

We use oil-based eggshell or gloss as the standard specification for original timber front doors on period properties. These products give a harder, more durable film than water-based alternatives on a surface this exposed.

uPVC and composite doors across the 1930s and Edwardian properties of East Sheen, Hampton, and Whitton can be repainted in any colour. We use a specialist adhesion primer and flexible water-based topcoat to extend the door’s working life.

Skipping the primer causes paint to peel within months — we never skip this step. Composite doors are assessed individually as surface profiles vary between manufacturers.

Properties in conservation areas and those on the Kew Green estate are subject to planning guidance on external colours. We advise on which areas have colour restrictions and work with clients to find a period-appropriate solution.

For exterior painting programmes that include the front door, we coordinate colour selection across the door, frames, fascias, and soffits so the whole elevation reads as a considered scheme.

We sand the full door surface, fill any cracks or checks in the timber, and prime bare areas before applying the finish coats. On doors with significant paint build-up, we assess whether full strip-back is needed before overcoating.

Original Victorian panelled doors in Kew and Richmond TW9 often carry six to eight layers of paint. Where panel profiles are still clear, we key and overcoat — where profiles have been obscured, strip-back restores the door’s original character.

All door hardware — including letter boxes, knockers, numerals, and handles — is carefully masked before painting. We do not paint over original period ironmongery.

Where original brass or iron hardware has been painted over by previous contractors, we can carefully cut the paint away from the hardware profile, significantly improving the door’s appearance.