Painting a front door- how many coats of primer would you do?

[ThisOneNoThatOne]

I'm in the middle of painting my front door. I've stripped off all the paint (with acid) and today I've done one coat of aluminium primer. Does anyone know if it would be worth doing 2 coats of the aluminium primer or is 1 enough? And also, do I then need to do a coat of white primer or can I go straight to the colour? The door is in a storm porch so it isn't too exposed to the elements.

Thank you! (This job is taking me forever!)

[PigletJohn]

usually one. Aluminium primer is very durable and my favourite for outdoor woodwork.

If there are any thin patches where it has been brushed out too far you could do another thin coat (two thin are better than one thick) or if there are problems like resinous knots or burnt off wood.

If you are thinking of white acrylic primer undercoat, that is only suitable for indoor work. An oil based undercoat is more durable outdoors and should be used under the gloss topcoat.

Paints like "once" are not as good as separate undercoat and topcoat..

[Belleview]

Can I add a question please. I'm about to repaint my front door. It currently has rather chipped oil based gloss. Shall I prime it all over, just prime the chips, or just paint the whole thing after sanding, without a primer?

The paint I'm planning to use us an acrylic eggshell.

[ThisOneNoThatOne]

Great thank you that's really useful. I'll do a coat of oil based primer today.

Belleview- our door originally had really chipped gloss. We sent it off to be dipped and after one coat of primer and it already looks so much better! It is probably easier to remove the paint with a hot air gun (we had lead in our paint so couldn't do that, I don't know if we were being too cautious though). I also stripped the door frame which is what has taken ages. Good luck!

[SusanMichelson]

I don't know if you can really put an acrylic over a gloss without some trouble, ie, peeling off - and primer is supposed to go on bare wood or metal, not over paint, so you don't need to use that at all (even on chips - unless they are massive!)

You will need to sand it but honestly I would go and get some more oil based (eggshell or gloss is fine) to go over it with. It will hold much more easily and be far less work.

[Belleview]

Ok, yes, I will sand it very very well. Good job the weather is fine, nice day to have the front door open!