Last Updated on June 4, 2025 by PorchLightReading
How to paint a screen door the easy way, without removing the screen! Simple weekend DIY project. Plus removing mildew.
We installed a new screen door only a few months ago. The intentions were to paint the screen door shortly after installing it, but somehow life got in the way.
Between exploring our new hometown and the occasional rainy weekend, the once brightly colored wooden door was now dingy and beginning to show signs of mildew.
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- Table of Contents: How to paint a screen door + without removing the screen
- Tools
- Materials list
- Step by step instructions
- Removing mildew
- Does paint protect screen doors
HOW TO PAINT A SCREEN DOOR
Our once beautiful screen door was now a dingy gray color and starting to grow mildew. Since this was a fairly new door, there was no way I was going to let this door get any worse!
While looking at the different paint at the home improvement store, I was already dreading having to remove the screen to paint the door. In our experience, once those screen start pulling up, it is a pain to get them back in place perfectly taut. Sure, they sell a roller to help guide the rubber back into the groove, but it just doesn’t hold as well. (in our opinion) So if we had any chance of saving this door, we had to get it right.
Any paint brush or roller would involve taking out the screen or masking off a ton of different areas and grooves. Spray paint colors, such as white, would have overspray and make a mess. But then it hit me, black spray paint! If we used black spray paint we wouldn’t have to mask anything off and we could keep the screen in the door!
This is our own personal experience. It is advised to seek professional guidance and to always follow manufacture instructions.
TOOLS
- Screw driver or drill (to remove door from hinges)
- Saw horses
- Sand paper or sander
- Board to support door on saw horses
- Safety glasses and mask
MATERIALS LIST
- 2 cans black spray paint (linked is the exact paint we used)
- cleaning supplies to remove any dust, dirt, or mildew
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
- Remove screen door from hinges and place on saw horses. You’ll want to add a board or support under the door so that the screen doesn’t get stretched.
- Remove all hardware.
- Clean door using a damp cloth and cleaning solution. Also clean the screen using a damp cloth or hose with spray attachment. Allow to dry fully. (Never paint over mildew without cleaning and removing it properly.)
- Sand down any spots that might have splintered over time.
- Use a paint and primer spray paint that is formulated to use on wood and exterior projects.
- Spray paint according to directions, keeping in mind to get into any groves around the door. Allow to dry.
- Go over a second or third time to archive full coverage. Allow to dry between each coat.
- Once dry, reattach your hardware and hang back on door hinges.
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REMOVING MILDEW
Since this door was unprotected in the elements, even in the short time we had it, the outside of the door had begun to show signs of mildew. So before we painted the door we needed to make sure it was fully clean.
You can remove mildew a few different ways, but the one we chose was vinegar in a spray bottled.
- Cleaning supplies to remove mildew: one of the following methods
- Vinegar directly on the mildew. Scrub until removed
- Or three parts water to one part bleach. Scrub until removed
- Or a baking soda and water paste. Allow to sit for 30 minutes. Scrub until removed
Do not paint over mildew as it can grow back and will not be able to be removed.
DOES PAINT PROTECT A WOODEN SCREEN DOOR FROM THE ELEMENTS
Yes, painting a wooden screen door will protect the door from moisture and UR rays. The spray paint will act as a burrier and lock out moisture. Just keep in mind that the paint needs to be for exterior use and the wood that is being painted needs to be in good condition.
This was a quick weekend DIY project that should have been done the moment we purchased the screen door. However, by giving it a good cleaning and by simply spray painting this screen door, we were able to save it for several more years to come.
As long as it can survive our children and pets, that is.
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