Entrance door - can it be repaired/painted.

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floydbloke

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#324326 29-Mar-2026 10:54

My front door is in need of some attention. I'm hoping I can get someone in to get it repainted but I'm not sure it's suitable.

It appears to made of MDF but the surface is very smooth and glossy, almost like it has been powdercoated or has some sort of plastic wrap.

That surface is now breaking down (and has faded), see pics. Thoughts please on whether this can be remedied or should I go shopping for a new door ($$$$$).

Sometimes I use big words I don't always fully understand in an effort to make myself sound more photosynthesis.

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#3474910 29-Mar-2026 11:17

Its MDF or hardboard, either way those are not products designed for outside. To fix properly would be to replace it.

richms

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#3474963 29-Mar-2026 11:58

Its dead. If youre not going to replace it straight away then get some paint on that exposed stuff to make it a little less sponge like, but that would probably only add months to the inevitable when it swells so much that it will not close properly.

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tweake

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#3474984 29-Mar-2026 13:15

as above, someone has fitted an internal door and used a sealer/paint to "waterproof" it. replace it.

floydbloke

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#3474998 29-Mar-2026 14:23

Thanks all. Looks like we're going shopping for a new door.

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mdf

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#3475051 29-Mar-2026 15:41

I don't know about this particular door (which definitely doesn't look great where it is peeling) but you can absolutely get exterior rated MDF and HDF that do not use water soluble glues for just this type of situation - see e.g. https://iti.net.nz/tricoya/. The coating is weird though, looks almost like a vinyl wrap?

My instinct is that the effort of rehabilitating that door may be less than just getting something new though - I have a few of these and pretty happy with them overall: https://www.bunnings.co.nz/duramax-1980-x-810mm-parkwood-entrance-door_p0250963.

Bung

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#3475156 29-Mar-2026 17:17

mdf:

I don't know about this particular door (which definitely doesn't look great where it is peeling) but you can absolutely get exterior rated MDF and HDF that do not use water soluble glues for just this type of situation -

Hume Solicore doors are an example. The limitation is "The door must be sheltered from direct exposure to rain, wind or sun."

Unless the door and surround are supplied as a unit the finish is unlikely to be a wrap as you couldn’t size the door to the opening.

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mattwnz

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#3475222 29-Mar-2026 18:23

lxsw20:

Its MDF or hardboard, either way those are not products designed for outside. To fix properly would be to replace it.

i think it was quite common for oiled hardboard to be used for this purpose and painted. Maybe 20+ years ago. These days they tend to be fibreglass. It is essential though that the paintwork is maintained and probably best where it is undercover and not exposed to rain directly

mattwnz

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#3475224 29-Mar-2026 18:26

Go into Resene and ask them. If you can repaint it, you may need to roll or spray it. Some automotive sprayers will spray front doors. But the condition may not be ideal. If it was my door I would probably sand it back and roll paint it. It hasn’t been maintained so the surface maybe damaged. Do you have anything to lose? I can see that the damage looks to be where rain water would hit the door and collect at the sill rubber.

floydbloke

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#3475229 29-Mar-2026 18:54

mattwnz:

...

i think it was quite common for oiled hardboard to be used for this purpose and painted. Maybe 20+ years ago. These days they tend to be fibreglass. It is essential though that the paintwork is maintained and probably best where it is undercover and not exposed to rain directly

Yep, it's 30 years old. No direct exposure to rain most days although a good Wellington norwester will probably get it a bit wet, and in summer it will get evening sun.

Don't really trust myself to do a proper job so will be up for some labour costs regardless. Looking at Bunnings I should be able to get a half decent new one for under a grand (it's a standard size) so will probably go down that track after reading the commentary on here.

Sometimes I use big words I don't always fully understand in an effort to make myself sound more photosynthesis.

tweake

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#3475242 29-Mar-2026 19:39

floydbloke:

Yep, it's 30 years old. No direct exposure to rain most days although a good Wellington norwester will probably get it a bit wet, and in summer it will get evening sun.

the door doesn't look original. unless it was a custom job when new, i would say the door was replaced with a cheapie at some stage.

bebek

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#3475315 29-Mar-2026 22:53

Do consider to have an aluminium door. This come in wide choices of profile, finish & color e.g. woodgrain, smooth (like yours) etc

From memory they are powder coated paint.

It is way less maintenance than timber, won’t warp, and lasts much longer. Will not rot or rust.

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gzt

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#3475317 29-Mar-2026 23:17

bebek: Do consider to have an aluminium door. This come in wide choices of profile, finish & color e.g. woodgrain, smooth (like yours) etc From memory they are powder coated paint. It is way less maintenance than timber, won’t warp, and lasts much longer. Will not rot or rust.

or warp. All true. The major issue with one side exposed to cold weather is condensate on the internal warm side. That may not be a deal breaker if the internal entranceway is relatively isolated from the rest of the house.

It is a great cold temperature conductor from outside to inside.

There are insulated versions. Could be good. I have my doubts about how good the thermal break can be. I haven't seen one in action.

qwertee

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#3475366 30-Mar-2026 08:35

Will you be looking at an electronic smart lock when replacing the door. Just a thought but another cost.

Handsomedan

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#3475368 30-Mar-2026 08:43

floydbloke:

Thanks all. Looks like we're going shopping for a new door.

Please update us with cost and style of said new front door - we are desperately in need as well - our one has been on its last legs for a long while.

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Bung

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#3475370 30-Mar-2026 08:48

mattwnz:

i think it was quite common for oiled hardboard to be used for this purpose and painted. Maybe 20+ years ago.

There's probably hundreds of thousands of showers lined with Seratone panels. They are oil tempered hardboard under the paint.

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