How to Paint a Metal Garage Door
If we’re talking curb appeal, your garage can greatly affect the way your home is seen. Whether you’re going in for a simple touch up, or want to completely change the paint on your garage, there are a few important things to know prior to beginning your project.
Tips for painting exterior metal fixtures
Before we get into the thick of it, let’s go over the basics to make sure we’ve established a solid foundation for painting your garage door. Unlike plastic, wood, or other materials that may be found on the outside of your home, metal takes a few special steps to ensure it’s painted correctly.
Let’s dive in!
How to choose the best paint color
When it comes to choosing the type of paint, it’s important to avoid investing in the cheapest option. Your garage door will end up experiencing years of wear and tear, weather, scuffs and scratches - so why not invest in making sure your new project can withstand whatever challenges it may face.
What kind of paint is best for metal garage doors?
To start off, the metal paint you select must be listed as exterior paint, and is suggested to be either latex or acrylic based. Additionally, it is important to remember that the finish of the paint you selected will affect the overall lifespan of your project. For example, finishes that consist of a gloss or semi gloss are preferred as the paint dries hard and provides additional protection to the garage,withstanding wet or humid climates.
What’s the best way to remove old paint?
Before any painting can begin, any old and peeling paint must be removed in order to ensure a successful paint job. If this step is overlooked, you could be left with a patchy or peeling project that will require more time, money, and effort to fix.
When it comes to the process of removing paint, professionals will always recommend using a sander or a chemical paint remover to get the job done. Using a sander and a chemical solvent not only shortens the amount of time and effort it will take, but also enables easy access to small nooks and crannies that may have otherwise been inaccessible with other manual options.
How to paint your garage door: step-by-step
We’ve gone over the basics, now let’s dive into your own step-by-step walk-through on painting your garage door.
1) Check the weather forecast
You may not think about this one, and that’s why we’ve chosen to list it as our top recommendation when starting your project. It is critical to begin the process on a day that is forecasted to be moderately warm and completely dry.
While extreme temperatures (hot or cold) are not the most desirable, painting in colder climates can actually affect the drying time and texture of your paint. To ensure seamless results, try painting on days with a minimum forecasted temperature of at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
2) Remove old paint and clean the metal garage door
Before we start priming and painting, any existing coats of paint will need to be removed. To begin the process, ensure that any dirt has been removed from the garage door by rinsing it off. Once the garage has completely dried, you can begin removing the existing paint.
Due to the large surface area of the garage door, the easiest way to remove any existing paint is to sand down the top coat and apply a chemical paint remover to the surface.
3) Prepare the surface of your door
Now that it is time to prepare your surface for primer and paint application, it is important to ensure that the garage door has been cleared of any remaining debris before moving forward. For example, if a sander was used to remove paint at any point, you must make sure that any remaining dust has been removed from the paneling being painted.
Preparation also includes sectioning off any areas you do not wish to paint - such as the door frame - with masking tape. Here at old crow painting, we also suggest laying down a tarp to ensure that no color transfers onto your driveways or garage floors.
4) Apply an initial coat of primer
When it is time for primer, use a roller or paint sprayer to apply the first layer of primer. Once applied, allow for a minimum of 5 to 6 hours for the primer to dry. The coat of primer must be fully dried prior to applying any paint or else the quality of your paint job will be affected. If possible, allow for a full day of drying prior to moving forward.
5) Paint your metal garage door!
Now, the final step is the actual paint application. Similarly to the primer, your paint can be applied either by means of a paint roller or with a paint sprayer. Ensure that you begin painting from the center of your garage, working outward.
Once your first application has been completed, let the paint dry for at least 12 hours before applying an additional coat of paint to finish out your project.
Old Crow Painting helps with all your exterior painting needs
Here at Old Crow Painting, we can tackle all of your home or business painting needs. There is no project too big, or too small - so if you’re interested in kick-starting your next creative endeavor, call us or book with us online today!