Looking to give your garage door a touch-up?
That’s a great step because after all, that door is part of your home, and hence, it can’t be neglected while everything else looks great. And tell you what? The door provides protection for the items kept in the garage, but it needs protection.
How so? The layer of paint safeguards the door against the agents of rusting or other forms of degradation like acids, snow, and raindrops.
Without further ado, let’s jump into how to paint a garage door
Step One: Preparation for Painting Garage Door
1. Choose an appropriate day
The best day for painting the door would be when the weather is clear. You especially don’t want to paint it when it’s rainy or too humid, as the drops of water would wash off the paint before it dries.
Choose a time when you forecast the next couple of days to have favorable weather, so the paint sets uninterrupted.
2. Clean the door
If you try painting a dirty garage door, the task will be more difficult, and it’s likely the finish will not be very even. In short, you’ll not be happy with the results.
Thus, use a towel soaked in soapy water to wipe away any dirt that clings to the door. Start from the top all the way to the bottom to avoid transferring dirt from top to bottom and ensure the corners are not neglected.
Once you’re done with that, use a hose to rinse the door and then wipe it dry with a clean towel. Before applying the paint, make sure the surface is totally dry and clean.
3. Lay a drop sheet
While painting, some of the paint will drip to the ground, and if nothing is preventing the paint from staining the ground, you will have quite a mess. To prevent that from happening, lay a protective drop sheet beneath the door.
Don’t have a drop sheet? Lay several sheets of newspaper or an old blanket as an alternative.
4. Tape the parts you don’t want to paint
Apart from the ground, other areas you don’t want stained are the ones surrounding the door. To protect these, apply painter’s tape around the edges of the garage door. By doing this, you will not have to go through the hard task of scraping the paint off these areas once you’re done painting the door.
Step Two: Application
1. Choose a color
Observe the setting in which the door is located. What is the color of the garage?
What about the roof?
Do you think the door should be painted cream white to match that of the main house’s door or sky blue to match the garage’s window frames?
Once you settle on a certain color, visit an online store like Amazon and place an order or buy the paint from the local stores.
2. Apply a primer
By applying a primer prior to applying the paint, you not only increase the chances of the paint holding on to the door efficiently and evenly but also boost the paint’s durability.
Apply just a single layer of primer and make certain that it’s dry before applying the paint. 12 hours should be enough for the primer to dry so if you’re planning to paint the door tomorrow, applying the primer today would be a good idea.
3. Paint the hard to reach spots
It’s better to use a handheld brush to detail the recessed spots, as the narrow nature of the brush coupled with the manual control will help with penetration.
Go slowly and use vigilance, making sure that all the crevices and other difficult areas are covered.
Feel free to use more than one coat to make the finish solid.
4. Move onto the easier areas
Once the difficult areas are dealt with, it’s time to work on the simpler parts. With these, a wider paint roller performs better as it helps you move fast while enabling you to achieve a uniform finish more easily.
For efficiency, use long, consistent motions and overlap the edges every time.
If you’re applying a lighter shade over a darker shade, you will need to apply multiple coats. Otherwise a single coat will be enough.
Bear in mind that when applying multiple coats, each coat needs about 12 hours to dry before the next one coat is applied.
5. Let the paint dry
Mostly, paint needs at least 12 hours to dry, with some paints needing up to 24 hours. By leaving the door in a closed position, you maximize the flow of air to the door and thus boost the chances of efficient drying.
During this time, don’t use the garage and place a notice that there’s wet paint on the door, so people don’t touch it.
Realise that even though the paint will be dry to the touch in a few hours, curing might take up to a week, and during this time, the door needs to be handled with care to avoid ruining the paint.
That’s it for ‘how to paint a garage door’ but before you go, check out the following tips on how to maintain your garage door.
Garage Door Maintenance Tips
1. Clean it regularly
We hope you have set aside a day, perhaps every Saturday, for cleaning the garage. It may be once every two weeks depending on how you use the garage. When cleaning it, don’t forget to clean the door as well.
You only have to wipe down the door with a sponge dipped in soapy water. Avoid cleaning chemicals as they may contain abrasives that will likely irritate the paint.
2. Examine it for issues
Harsh weather, rough handling, and other factors might damage the door in various ways. Therefore, watch out for areas that might need fixing. You might notice a scratch and apply some paint over it to prevent it from spreading.
3. Repaint the door in five years
Experts propose repainting the door in not more than five years but if you want to keep the door looking vibrant, do it in four years. Remember, applying a primer before painting increases the paint’s lifespan.
If you live in a dry area, the paint will look fresh for long, but if you live in a wet area, it might not be very long before the door needs a repaint. Why? The rain damages the paint.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What kind of paint is most ideal for my garage door?
Try semi-gloss paint such as enamel or acrylic. Actually, semi-gloss is the most preferred paint for doors and trim, as it presents a refine sheen that doesn’t appear too flashy. Furthermore, it is easy to clean.
2. My garage door has various panels. Should I paint the edges of each panel?
If you don’t paint the edges, they will be visible, and they will cause inconsistency. Thus, be sure to paint the panels’ edges.
3. My metal garage door is rusting. How do I paint it?
First, clean the door with a damp towel and ensure the dirt is gone. Then, when the door is dry, apply a rust remover or rust converter that contains a primer to get rid of the rust and create a good adhesive surface for the paint. After that, apply the paint.
4. Should I paint behind the weather flashing?
No, otherwise the door will get stuck there.
