How to: transform your front doorstep

The front of your property is the first thing prospective tenants will see when they come to view it.

Making sure your property has kerb appeal needn’t break the bank, and one simple technique you can use is to transform the front doorstep at the property. 

In this article, NRLA partner Tradepoint explain how to do this..

1) Give the step a sweep It’s important to make sure the front doorstep, or steps, are regularly swept if you want to keep the front of the property looking tidy. Start by giving the steps a good brush. Afterwards, you may also consider using a pressure washer to give them a clean.

2) Repaint Then, making sure you wear all the necessary safety gear such as eye protection, you may wish to paint the step another colour. Before you do this, give the steps a good scrub first. Take some frog tape and put it over the edge that connects the step to the house, ensuring a clean edge and smooth-looking finish.

3) Start by applying an undercoat Then, when there are a few dry-looking weather days, you’ll want to first apply an undercoat to the steps. Remember to use a masonry-specific primer for this, and then a weather-resistant base colour. Regular indoor paint might not cut the mustard, given the step is outdoors and will be exposed to the elements.

4) Consider using a stencil You may wish to paint the step one colour and leave it at that, but if you want a step or staircase that stands out, then you may consider using a stencil pattern to achieve this. Firstly, plan your design. There are numerous stencils available, such as flower or chessboard patterns. 

5)  If opting for a stencil, you’ll want to start to apply it from the centre of the doorstep, starting at the lip and working to the back of the step. An additional coat of base paint will stop the paint from bleeding.

6)  Leave the paint to dry, and once dry you can add the secondary colour. Use a small, short pile roller to paint over your stencil, rather than a large brush as this will help ensure a clean finish. Take your time and gently go over the stencil.

7)  Once you’ve done one square, you can repeat the above as you work to paint the rest of the stencil onto the steps. Give stencils a clean before you reuse them!

8)  Alternatively, you can repeat the above steps but just stencil on the stair risers, rather than the surface. 

Watch a video demonstration of how to transform your outdoor stairs below.