Painting Affordable Garage Doors
Steel garage doors are some of the most durable and affordable doors out there. They are notoriously hard to paint, but if done properly they can be very pleasing to the eye. Like everything else that’s painted, but especially metal, the paint will start chipping and peeling off. When this happens there are a couple of basic things that you need to know in order to restore it to its previous finish. First, see the garage door spring before painting the garage.
Which Material is needed before Painting Garage Door?
Steel is not a textured metal and paint needs to be something to adhere to in order to get good coverage. For this reason, steel garage doors need several coats in order to look good. In order to perform this repair well, you’ll need the following:
- A paint scraper
- Fine sandpaper
- A gallon of warm water with mild dish soap added
- A clean rag
- A clean sponge
- New paint (preferably matching)
- A paintbrush or roller
Peel off Old Paint Skin
First, you need to identify all of the areas that are peeling. On steel garage doors, all of these areas may not be readily visible. So, using your paint scraper, go over the entire door. This will reveal all of the areas that are either peeling already or have bubbled and will start to peel soon. Remove as much of the paint as will come off, but don’t gouge into your door.
Once you’ve removed as much paint as will readily come off, make sure that the remaining paint is even with the door. Take care in this inspection of the door, as you could wind up with raised areas and lines; that could give you an undesirable finish and make your door appear sloppy. But this process also gives your door less texture to adhere to, so using your sandpaper, rub the bare metal until you begin to feel a texture forming. Don’t be afraid to sand into the remaining paint. This will help to bevel the edges and blend them into the steel. This may take several attempts, but it’s better to take longer and get it right than to be left with a substandard finish.
Sanding Before Painting Garage Door
The scraping and sanding of your garage door is going to leave behind bits of paint and metal, most often in the form of fine dust. Paint will not adhere to dust, and if applied now, it will give your door an uneven look and texture. Plus, it will probably flake off in about a week. To prevent this, use your gallon of warm water with dish soap in it and your sponge to thoroughly wash the door. The water should be soapy, to help get all of the dust and dirt off of your door. You want to make sure that the door is completely clean before you begin to paint. Once satisfied, use your clean rag to dry your garage door.
Now we come to actually painting the steel garage door, but there are some things that you should consider if you’re not using leftover paint from the original job. You want your paint job to last as long as possible, so protection is your main concern (outside of color) when choosing what kind of paint to use. You can use either latex or oil, and both have their benefits.
Choose The Best Paint Type for the Garage Door
Oil-based paints will usually help resist rusting and give a smooth, even textured look. Unfortunately, they run and can leave unsightly drips all over the door if not applied properly. Most people tend to use latex paint, which is probably what’s already on your door; it’s always a good idea to match it as closely as possible, so if you think it’s latex then use that. Luckily, latex has a lot of benefits. Exterior latex paints are made to be put in full sunlight, so they will resist fading longer. All paints fade in sunlight, and some colors fade faster than others. Use high-quality acrylic latex house paint or 100% acrylic paint. The acrylic polymers in this paint are the most sunlight-resistant paint available. Of course, you can use latex and oil paints together, but there are rules.
Latex paint can go over oil paint because it seals it in keeps it from cracking. But if you apply oil-based paint over latex paint, the oil paint will crack over time because the two expand and contract at different rates. After you’ve decided what kind of paint you want, consider the gloss level of the paint you’re choosing. Flat paint hides defects better than glossy paints, but it also has a tendency toward forming a chalky, dusty surface and can leave streaks. Flat paints will also absorb fingerprints and dirt into the paint. Glossy paints are easier to clean and reflect more light which helps with keeping your garage cool.
Once you’ve weighed all the options, and your garage door is sanded and cleaned, simply apply the paint as you would any other. Fill in the patches on your door and make sure that you’re getting an even distribution over the surface of the door. Blend the paint with the existing coat until you have a smooth finish.
4 Steps to Paint garage door by yourself.
Garage doors are a focal point of your home’s exterior. Since they are exposed to natural elements every day, they can deteriorate over time. Applying fresh coats of paint to your garage doors can significantly improve the exterior appeal of your home. Paint acts as an extra layer of protection for the doors, increasing their resilience to inclement weather conditions, dust, and the harmful rays of the sun. Paint is a cheaper fix that increases your doors’ longevity and life span, which is what every homeowner needs.
If you are a fledgling DIY-er, who still doubts his design and construction ability, here is a step-by-step guide for you to follow.
1. Check The Weather
Before embarking on a painting job, make sure to check the weather for any rain or snow that might be heading your way. It is a challenge to take on exterior painting jobs since you need favorable weather conditions to ensure project success. Before you paint your garage doors, make sure that the sun will be out for at least three days. Ideally, you should start painting early in the day. You need enough sunlight to allow the paint to dry properly.
2. Prepare Your Tools And Equipment
Get all materials and equipment ready before starting on this project. Make sure to wear protective gear since you will be dealing with harmful chemicals later in the process. Having everything within easy reach could help you save a few extra steps later, cutting your work time significantly. Determine what material was used to make your garage door. There are different types of paint for different surfaces. Make sure to get the right one to save you time, money, and effort.
3. Surface Prepping
Do not think about skipping this step. It is very important to prepare your surface if you want your paint job to last. Start by scraping off any existing paint off your door with a putty knife. To make sure that no existing paint remains, you may scrub the surface off with Trisodium Phosphate solution; using fine-grade sandpaper, sand off the garage door‘s surface. Fill dents and holes with a wood putty and let it dry.
Caulk deep cracks, and sand down over it. Wipe down saw dust, dirt, and grit with a wet rag. You may also want to sand metal parts to remove any rust that may have built up. Once done, tape off areas that you do not want to be painted. To prevent paint and primer marks from dripping all over your floor, cover it with old tarps or newspapers.
Using a roller, apply primer on your entire door. Since rollers cannot reach detailed areas, you may want to use a brush for this task. Primers are used as a base coat which is essential to produce paint jobs that look flat and even. Without a primer, you risk having your door’s old color show underneath your current paint job, which makes the finished product ugly. Alternatively, you can pick a paint that has a built-in primer if you do not want to go through as much prep work.
Cleaning
Remove grime, dust, and dirt by hosing it down with a power spray. If you do not have a power spray, you may scrub down debris and dirt with a sponge soaked in an all-purpose cleaner. Let it dry.
Painting
Using a roller or a brush, apply just enough paint on your door, making sure that coats are even and in the same direction. For best results, apply two to three coats of paint. Check for any bubbles or lines that might have appeared, and sand them down gently. Make sure to let the paint dry overnight before applying the next coat. For metal doors, it is advised that four layers of paint be applied.
Comments are closed