How to Paint a Metal Garage Door – Do It Yourself

The garage door is important to the appearance of your home. You might want to paint the garage door in your home, or it might be time to cover your garage door with a fresh coat of paint.

You’ll need to paint your garage door if it is rusted, peeling, or stained. This article is the complete guide to painting your metal garage door with all the tips and tricks. If you need to have a look at some of the best exterior metal buildings and storage items to add to your homespace:
READ: 9 Best Duramax Sheds For Your Yard

It is very easy to paint a metal garage door and it will take about a day for the wet paint to dry. All the necessary materials are available from your local hardware store. This is a task you can easily handle by yourself with good planning. This guide contains simple DIY handyman steps for painting your metal garage door.

Required Materials for Painting Your Garage Door

1. Paint
2. Painter’s tape 
3. Roller brush handle and heads
4. Safety glasses
5. Paint stirring sticks
6. Fume-rated mask
7. Paint Brush set
8. Bucket and Sponge
9. Sanding block
10. Rags
11. Ladder
12. Primer
13. Sprayer
14. Paint thinner
15. Roller tray

For metal doors that come primed already, you can use a sprayer for faster painting in place of a paintbrush or roller. Spray paints are not effective during heavy winds. Remember that.

How to Paint a Garage Door – DIY Steps

1. Ensure the weather conditions are conducive before you start your paint job. If it is raining, very windy, or over 90 degrees, the paint might not dry easily. The recommended temperature for painting your metal garage door is between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Sand the door’s surface to remove any old paint and dirt on your door. It is important to paint on clean surfaces for optimum results. Get your scraper, stiff wire brush, and a sanding block to rub off the old coat of paint.
3. Wash and rinse your door’s surface once it’s smooth. Use soap and water to wash away any dirt, rust, and grease on the metal door’s surface. When you are done, rinse the soapy water and use a clean rag to dry the surface.
4. If your garage door is automatic, unplug the safety release chain to adjust its position manually.
5. Tape off any parts of your garage door that you don’t want any paint or primer on. Tape off your windows, gaskets, trim, and handles. Lay out a tarp or drop cloth to avoid paint dripping on the concrete.
6. Apply primer if your door isn’t primed before you apply the paint. Use your paintbrush, a roller, or a sprayer to apply coating layers to each panel. You’ll need to ensure that you get between each indent and crevice. Wait for the primer to dry before you start painting.
7. Prepare your brushes and stir your paint then start painting your garage door. Paint it from top to bottom when applying the first coat. Start from the top right panel and work your way down until you finish painting the garage door. Paint the panels, one at a time until you reach the hinges. Then lift the garage door to give you more space to move precisely with your brush.

If your door is not completely covered by the first coat of paint, let it dry before adding another coat of paint. Note that, oil-based paint takes longer than acrylic latex paint to dry.

The Ideal Paint for Your Metal Garage Door

The ideal paint for a garage door is resistant to fading. It should be able to easily bond to metal surfaces to protect them from the elements. It is also available in gloss and satin finishes adding to the durability and aesthetics of the garage. Here is a couple of ideal garage door paints you may consider using:

Garage Door Paint Ideas

1. Acrylic Latex Exterior Garage Door Paint

Acrylic Latex exterior paints are the most popular paints for metal garage doors. They are popular for their low maintenance costs, fast drying speeds, fade resistance, and easy bonding to the metal surface. Acrylic latex exterior paints are available in a variety of finishes such as gloss and satin which will make your garage door more scratch-resistant.

2. Oil-Based Paint For Garage Door

Oil-based paints are more resistant to rust and stains compared to acrylic latex paints but they may turn yellow due to oxidation over time. It is however more durable, but it takes longer to dry, possibly over a day. Oil-based paints emit high levels of VOCs, which has an environmental impact as well as posing a health hazard for you by reducing the quality of your garage’s air.

Acrylic latex exterior paints are highly recommended, but if you prefer durability, then you should pick oil-based paints instead.

Choosing the Best Garage Door Primer

A good primer will help you cover up old stains and bond to your door’s surface, preventing corrosion and rust over time. You can either use water-based or oil-based primers depending on your needs.

Water-based primers are much easier to clean, dry faster, and emit fewer VOCs than oil-based ones unless you are using oil-based paint.

Mix-and-match primers can be mixed with various paint types but for simplicity, you should match oil-based primers with oil-based paints and water-based primers with water-based paints.

You should not apply water-based paints on a layer of oil-based paints and vice versa to avoid having cracked and peeling paint.

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DIY Garage Door Painting Guide – FAQs

Which should I use to paint my metal garage door between a brush and a roller?

Brushes are generally the more common choice to paint the details of a metal door. Rollers are faster to work with but a brush will still be needed to cover the wall properly.

Which is the ideal paint to use on a metal garage door?

Acrylic latex exterior paint is highly recommended when painting your garage door for several reasons. It dries faster, does not turn yellow, and does not fade over time.

What is the average cost of painting a garage door?

The cost of painting your garage door can range between $100 and $600 depending on your garage’s size, the material, and the preferred type of paint. You can also save if you do it yourself instead of hiring a painter.

What is the best color to paint my garage door?

You can always paint the garage door any color you want, but neutral colors are ideal as they complement most home and garage designs. Neutral colors include gray, black, beige, and walnut brown are good choices.

Takeaways

Fresh coats of paint can brighten your garage door, brighten the look of your home and make your curb more appealing. Following this guide, you’re gonna find the ideal tips and garage paint recommendations that will leave your garage door looking awesome and very admirable. No need to hire a specialist or spend extra costs to paint your garage door, just do it all by yourself.