How to Fix Paint Peeling Off Metal Door? The Best 6-Step Guide!

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Why is the Paint Peeling Off Metal Door?

Paint Peeling Off the Metal Door of your garage can be pretty disappointing. You thought you had chosen the best paint in the market and had worked hard applying it. So what went wrong?

Paint Peeling Off Metal Garage Door has less to do with the paint and more to do with one of the following:

1. Very smooth metal surface. A very smooth surface has very poor adhesion. The paint has nothing to hold onto.
2. Painting during high humidity. Moisture condensation will not allow the primer to adhere to the metal surface.
3. Smooth oily pre-painted surface. New paint will not stick easily to a pre-painted metal surface if there is a layer of oil or grease on it.
4. Chalky, crumbling pre-painted surface. It is not the new paint that is peeling. It is the old crumbling paint that is peeling.
5. Poor quality primer. A good quality primer seals the old surface and works as a tie-coat with the top finishing coat. A poor-quality primer does not do this.
6. No primer at all. I know many companies promote the concept of a single coat of finishing paint. The reality is primer is critical. Skip it and be ready to see Paint Peeling Off the Metal Door.

Of course, the type and quality of the finishing paint have an important role to play too. If you use poor quality or the wrong type of finishing paint you will still have adhesion problems and as such peeling paint.

Mechanical damages and extreme weather conditions can also result in paint peeling off metal doors.

Stay on. I am going to give you some of the most important fixes that you need to know and that work.

How to Fix Paint Peeling Off Metal Door? (Step-by-Step)

If the paint has peeled in some small parts or sections of the metal garage door, then there is no point in repainting the entire garage door. It will be an unnecessary expense and a waste of money.

You are better off repairing and retouching only those sections where you have paint peeling off the metal door of the garage. It will be a quick fix and it will be less than perfect but it should be an acceptable and practical solution.

Materials You Will Need

• Personal Protective Equipment (Rubber gloves, safety eyeglasses, face mask)
• Spatula or Putty Knife
• Wire Brush, Different grades of sandpaper
• Soapy solution and rag or sponge
• Garden hose & water supply
• Paint brush, roller, tray, etc.
• Self Etching Primer
• Bonding Universal Primer
• High Build Binding Primer
• Latex or Alkyd Paint

STEP1: Remove Peeling Paint From the Metal Door

Remove the peeling paint with a spatula or a putty knife. If required go right down to bare metal. However, if the paint film underneath is sound and firm go to STEP5.

STEP2: Thoroughly Clean the Bare Metal

Make sure to clean the bare metal thoroughly. Wipe with a rag soaked in soapy water to completely remove dirt, oil, etc. Then clean it with fresh water and allow it to dry.

STEP3: Etch the Bare Metal

Treat the bare metal (aluminum, galvanized iron, stainless steel, or similar) with an etching liquid / etch primer. 

Rust-Oleum® self-etching primer prepares bare metal, aluminum, and fiberglass surfaces to promote maximum adhesion and smoothness of the top coat. Click the link to order from Amazon.

STEP4: Apply Primer Coat

If the surface is rusty, remove loose rust and use Rust-oleum Stops Rust Rusty Metal Primer.

If the surface is clean or lightly rusted, clean the surface and use Rust-oleum Stops Rust Clean Metal Primer.

STEP5: Apply Sealing Primer

The paint film below the peeling paint may look sound & firm, but will likely have hairline cracks. Seal it with Rust-Oleum Peel Stop Triple Thick High Build Binding Primer, available at Amazon. The triple-thick formula penetrates and bonds with cracked or peeling surfaces to glue down edges and fill in gaps for a smooth finish.

Rustoleum ZINSSER Peel Stop Triple Thick Binding Primer

STEP6: Apply the Top Coats

Apply one or two coats of latex or alkyd paint. I know it is difficult but try to use a color that is as close as possible to the existing metal garage door color. I recommend using:

Rust-Oleum Painters Touch Ultra Cover

How to Fix Widespread Paint Peeling Off Metal Door?

Now if Paint Peeling Off Metal Door of a garage is widespread, say more than 30-50% then patching up is not worth it. It is better to remove the entire peeling paint and repaint the door afresh.

You have to be very careful when removing the peeling paint. A lot of dust will be created and you have to ensure that all safety and personal protection practices are strictly followed.

Required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The following are essential when removing large quantities of paint peeling off metal doors.

Eyes	Safety Glasses	Safety glasses have safety frames constructed of metal or plastic and impact-resistant lenses.  Side protection is required.
Nose	Respiratory Mask	Scraping and removing peeling paint is bound to create fine dust. Wear a safety mask to prevent inhalation of paint dust. Also, ensure adequate ventilation.
Hands	Utility Gloves	Fabric and Coated Fabric Gloves: These types of gloves are made of cotton or other fabric.  They generally protect against dirt, chafing, and abrasions.
Arms & Body	Long Sleeved Shirts & Long Trousers	Wash separately after use.

The Process

You may be required to use a 2-step process of removing paint peeling off metal doors of garages.

Paint Stripper

A liquid paint stripper is applied to the paint peeling off metal doors of a garage. For best results let the stripper stand until the finish paint is completely blistered or liquefied. 

If the paint has not bubbled, the surface must be kept wet with the stripper for a longer time. Multiple coats may require repeat application. 

Rust-Oleum® Aircraft Remover, available at Amazon, is fast-acting and will efficiently remove all types of finish from metal surfaces. Effective on acrylics, lacquers, polyurethanes, and baked enamels. 

Non-corrosive to all common metals under normal exposure time. It is non-methylene chloride and works on vertical surfaces.

Scraping

If the paint peeling off the metal doors of a garage is de-laminated, then you will not even need to use a chemical paint stripper. You will be able to scrape it off with a putty knife.

In case you have had to use a paint stripper, you still need to use a stiff putty knife to remove the now-softened paint film.

Make sure to spread a large piece of cloth or some cardboard under the door. Cleaning up will be a lot easier then.

How to Prepare the Metal Before Repainting?

Now that you have all the peeling paint removed, the bare metal should be fully exposed. Some areas may be rusted. In the case of rust, you have to decide whether to use a rust converter, rust remover, or primer.

Check out my post, Rust Converter vs Remover vs Primer (What Is Better?) for details.

Clean up the surface by hosing it with water and using a sponge dipped in soap water. A degreaser is even better. This will ensure all dust, oil & grease has been removed.

Once the metal is dry, it is time to etch the aluminum or galvanized iron metal door. Without etching, the metal surface will be too smooth. No primer or paint will stick to it and you will end up with the same problem of paint peeling off the metal door of your garage.

An etching solution is acidic. It eats up bits of the smooth aluminum as well as the layer of oxidized aluminum to create a profile. A profile is the key on which the primer will latch on and provide the required adherence.

Rust-Oleum® self-etching primer prepares bare metal, aluminum, and fiberglass surfaces to promote maximum adhesion and smoothness of the top coat. Click the link to order from Amazon.

Once the primer is dry, sand it with sandpaper and clean it with a dry rag. The door is now ready to be painted.

How should the Paint Top Coat be Applied?

Both alkyd enamels and latex acrylic paints can be applied to metal garage doors. Alkyd enamels tend to be more hard-wearing and glossy. On the flip side, they will highlight all the imperfections of the garage door. They can also produce an unpleasant glare if the sun shines directly on the door.

Gloss or Satin Latex acrylic paint suitable for exterior applications is always a good choice. The application is less messy as you can clean brushes, rollers trays, etc. with tap water.

If you want a smooth, durable finish, look no further than Painter’s Touch Ultra Cover. This fast-drying, multi-purpose paint is great on a variety of surfaces and provides excellent coverage for interior or exterior projects. The wide selection of colors will suit all of your trendy projects. 

Rust-Oleum® Painter’s® Touch Ultra Cover Multi-Purpose Brush-On Paint provides a smooth, durable finish that lasts longer than ordinary paints. Apply to wood, metal, plaster, masonry, or unglazed ceramic. The durable formula resists chipping and fading. It comes in a range of eye-pleasing colors and two finishes; Gloss & Satin.

There is no need to thin the paint as it comes in application viscosity. Avoid painting in direct sunlight or on hot surfaces. Use a good quality synthetic brush. Use light even strokes to ensure an even flow and the smoothest finish.

Can I put a Clear Coat over Latex Paint?

Yes, and it is an excellent idea! After your metal garage door has been repainted, go that last mile!

Spray on some Rust-Oleum Universal Gloss Spray Paint available at Amazon.

Rust-Oleum Universal Gloss Spray Paint provides high shine in a wide variety of rich colors which can add character and class to any indoor or outdoor project. 

The universal formula is fast drying and suitable for use on many surfaces such as plastic, metal, wood, aluminum, concrete, fiberglass, and more. Oil-based spray paint resists fading and chipping while protecting surfaces from rust and corrosion.

Thank you very much for reading the post. I do hope you found it informative and useful.