How to Repaint a Metal Garage Door? The Best Quick Guide for 2024!
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How to Repaint a Metal Garage Door?
As much as 30% of the frontage of your house, maybe your garage doors. A rusty & peeling garage door can lower the curb appeal of your house considerably. To maintain the value of your home you must keep your garage door looking as good as new, at all times . So how do you repaint a metal garage door?
To repaint your metal garage door, like a pro, you have to prep the garage door really well. Choosing a good quality primer & paint is crucial to getting a long lasting finish. Use the correct tools and be conscientious about every detail of the painting process.
You can repaint your metal garage door to get a stunning finish the step by step guide below:
Select the Right Tools, Primer & Paint
You are never going to get the result that you want, if you use incorrect tools or poor quality primer & paint. So select your painting tools, primer & finish paint really carefully.
For a flat paneled metal garage door, you can either use a roller or a 3” flat sash brush, for most of the area. To cut around the trim & edges of the garage door go with a 2” or 2 ½” angled sash brush.
When it comes to choosing primer & paint for your project, Benjamin Moore has you covered. Benjamin Moore is a leader in paint research, innovation & quality. Their focus is on developing paints which are safe to use, eco friendly and promote sustainability.
Prepping to Repaint the Metal Garage Door
This is probably the most boring part of the project. However, this is also the most critical part of the project. Do not take any shortcuts when it comes to prepping to repaint the metal garage door!.
Disconnect the garage door opener so that you can move the garage door up and down manually. This is an important safety precaution. You do not want the garage door to accidentally start moving, while you are working on it.
Dip a sponge in an all purpose cleaner and scrub every part of the garage door. To remove loose or peeling paint you can use a pressure washer.
If you detect mildew growth, make a solution of ¼ cup of TSP and ¼ cup of bleach in a gallon of clean water. Dip a sponge or rag cloth and apply on the garage door surface. It will kill the mildew. Wash the garage door with clean water using a garden hose or pressure washer.
Wait till the garage door is completely dry. You can use a leaf blower to hasten the drying process.
TIP: Use a drop cloth under the garage door during prepping & painting to protect the garage floor paint and the driveway.
Use sandpaper to smooth out the edges of the paint that are still adhering to the metal surface. The grit of the sandpaper will depend on how thick the paint edges are. Typically 80 or 120 grit paper should get the job done.
Make sure the metal surface is smooth to touch by running your bare hands over it.
Some parts of the metal garage door may be showing signs of rust. You should remove the rust using a wire brush or sandpaper.
Spot prime with a rust inhibitive primer such as:
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Water thinned
- Rust inhibitive
- Fast dry and fast full cure times
- Excellent adhesion
- Can be applied to galvanized metal
- Engineered with Gennex® Color Technology
or
SPECIAL FEATURES
- High solids content
- Rust inhibitive
- Suitable for occupied areas
- Can be recoated in just 4 hours
- Suitable for use in USDA-inspected facilities
- Qualifies for LEED certification
Use painters tape to cover any areas, such as trim, that you don’t want to be covered with paint.
Apply the Primer and Paint
The role of the primer is to
- Promote adhesion
- Improve opacity
- Ensure finish smoothness
TIP: Prime & paint only when the weather is good. Rain, direct sunlight, high heat or low temperatures can have a detrimental effect on the paint finish.
The best primer for repainting metal garage doors is
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Glues down and stops peeling paint
- Remains flexible over time
- Provides a mildew-resistant finish
- Low-VOC
- Top coat in 2 hours
Use the angled brush to cut around the trim and edges of the door. Use a wider brush (3”) or a roller to cover the main body of the panel.
TIP: When priming or painting a garage door always start from the top panel and work your way down, panel by panel.
Follow up the primer coat with two coats of the finish paint. You may choose a garage door color that complements the color of the front door of the house. But when it comes to choosing the best quality paint, I recommend using
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Proprietary Color Lock® technology for richer colors and superior fade resistance
- High build formula provides for for extreme hide and coverage for fewer coats
- Outstanding durability against even the harshest weather conditions
- Lifetime Limited Warranty (see label for details)
- Low-temperature application to extend the painting season
- Superior adhesion
- Fast drying and quick re-coat times
- Provides a mildew-resistant coating
- Self-priming in most situations
- Engineered with Gennex® Color Technology
or
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Sag-resistant formula up to 20 mils wet which allows application of a thicker coating across a variety of substrates, including wood, vinyl/PVC, masonry, and fiber cement board
- Excellent flow and leveling offers less drag for a smooth, high-build finish across all sheens
- Flexible high-build formula bridges small cracks and covers minor surface imperfections
- Breathable film that lets internal moisture escape, minimizing potential blistering and peeling
- Protects against harsh weather conditions, including wind driven rain
- Low temperature application down to 35°F extends the painting season
- Provides a mildew-resistant coating
- Lifetime limited warranty (see label for details)
- Engineered with Gennex® Color Technology
NOTE: White is very popular garage door color for several reasons.
Cleanup
Unlike oil based (alkyd) paint, acrylic (latex) paint is water-based. It can be cleaned with soap and water. Make sure to wash the paint brushes by rinsing them in warm soapy water before the paint dries up on them.
Thank you very much for reading the post. I do hope you found it informative and useful.
