Wondering How to Paint Garage Doors?
Depending on the manufacturer of your garage door, there may be specific recommendations on how to paint your garage door properly. Here are two great methods we know for painting steel garage doors or aluminum garage doors.
How to Paint a Raynor, Steel Garage Door
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How to Paint an Aluminum Garage Door
Step 1: PREP
Wait for a few days of good weather before starting. Extreme hot or cold will cause problems for paint drying. Like any exterior paint job, it cannot be done in the rain.
Clean the garage door before painting. You will want to use warm soapy water. While aluminum doesn’t rust, the manufacturer finish can be damaged with harsh chemicals.
Use a somewhat firm brush to scrub off any loose particles or peeling paint. A rough brush will result in a rough texture that makes it more difficult to paint over.
Once your door is clean and dry, lay a drop cloth down under the door to catch paint drips, and open the door half way.
Step 2: PRIME IT
Select an oil based primer. It’s recommended to thin the primer just a bit. There should be instructions on how to do this on your primer. Begin painting the bottom panel and move your way up, rolling the garage door down as necessary to reach the higher panels. This saves your back from bending to reach lower panels. Let the primer set for 24 hours.
Day 2, Step 3: TOPCOAT IT
Select either an oil based exterior paint or a 100% acrylic exterior paint. If using an oil based paint, use a brush and not a roller. If your door has a texture, you will want to work with it and not against it. Work your way up much the way you did with the primer. Let the paint dry. There may be manufacturer specifications on your paint as to how long to wait, but be sure to wait until it is completely dry.
Day 3, Step 4 – SECOND COAT
After the first coat has dried completely, you may notice that there are imperfections in the color. The second coat should fix this. Repeat the directions for Step 3, and if necessary, apply a 3rd coat. A third coat is often unnecessary, but if you had black spray paint on the door, you may find this to be the case.
TIP: Be sure to read all instructions on the materials used. Manufacturers offer great tips for how to use – and how to clean up after their products. You will want to clean your brushes to the manufacturer’s recommendation.
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