Is the color of your garage door, whether chosen many years ago or recently acquired, completely out of style or just dull and uninteresting? Now is the time to change its appearance and give your home a new look. However, where should you start?
This blog will cover metal doors, both non-insulated and insulated. For a wood garage door, whether painted or stained, get in touch with your local paint dealer. This expert will instruct you on how to do a great job.
First Things First
You should realize that nowadays, you cannot buy oil-based (alkyd) paints in large chain stores. Because of laws against using lead in paints, you can only find water-based (latex) paints. Paint professionals are the only ones who can use oil-based paints.
You can use any well-known paint brand, such as SICO, Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, DULUX, Behr, etc.
The right tools
- A good synthetic 4‑inch (10‑cm) paintbrush (nylon or polyester)
- A short-pile (around 3⁄16″ or 5 to 6 cm), woven fabric roller, about 5 inches (15 cm) wide
- A tray and/or container for the paint
- A few cloths to clean the door, and if needed, to wipe up any mess
- A sheet of fine (220‑grit) sandpaper to get into impressions in embossed designs
- If you have windows, masking tape will be required
The quantity of paint
- It depends on the size of your garage door. For instance, a double garage door will need about 1 gallon (4 liters) of paint.
- Based on the age of your door, we recommend applying a coat of primer to get the best adhesion of your final top coat.
- For your top coat, it is suggested to use paint with a matte or semi-gloss finish.
- Warning: if your door has southern exposure and receives many hours of direct sunlight, avoid dark colors. Dark colors attract ultraviolet rays and can cause the metal to warp from the contracting and expanding associated with changes in temperature. However, if you have a lot of shade from trees, this advice doesn’t need to be followed.
The preparation
- Wash the surface of each section with a trisodium phosphate (TSP) cleaner to remove any greasy or oily residue as well as any chalking.
- Rinse thoroughly with clean water and let dry.
- If needed, roughen up the surface of each section, especially any indentations, with fine grit sandpaper so the paint will adhere to the door properly.
- Avoid using steel wool.
- Remove any remaining dust with a damp cloth or vacuum cleaner.
- The same goes for the PVC window frames and any PVC decorative molding. Proper cleaning is the key to success.
The base coat
- A primer is required only in cases where the enamel has peeled off and the steel is visible or rust is seen. Applying a layer of zinc phosphate primer will do just fine.
- Let it dry at least 16 hours before applying your top coat.
The top coat
- Apply the top coat you have chosen, and if needed, a second coat.
- Always let the first coat dry properly before applying a second coat to get the best adherence.
Can I have the work done by a paint specialist?
Yes… Any good, qualified painter can do it for you. There are also companies specialized in painting who do this type of work. They will generally apply industrial-quality paint with a sprayer. To keep bugs or any air-born debris from sticking to the wet paint, they may erect a temporary shelter.
And if I’d like to learn more?
Contact us at 607-687-5126. Working with you, we will analyze your needs and find which products best fit your budget and the architectural style of your house. We can even send you a quote by email.
You can also come meet us at our showroom. Another method is using our Design Centre to choose the garage door style that suits you the best. In addition, you can take a look at our image gallery to get lots of ideas.
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