How To: Paint a Garage Door
Can you paint your garage door? YES! In fact, we encourage it!
Garage doors command a lot of attention when it comes to a home’s exterior. Whether it’s the material, the windows, the color, or the placement, these doors contribute to the overall curb appeal of your home. And while many homeowners will keep up with painting the exterior of their home, the garage door goes easily forgotten. But sprucing up your garage door is so simple, you could do it in one weekend! Plus, a fresh coat of paint can extend the life expectancy of your garage door.
If you’re looking to switch it up or spruce it up, here are 4 easy steps to painting your metal or wooden garage doors.
Step 1: Prepare the Door
Get your door ready for some fresh paint! Spray the entire surface of the door with an all-purpose cleaner and thoroughly clean off any dirt or dust with a cloth. Rinse the door with water and let it dry. Once it’s dry, use painter’s tape to mask any handles, windows, and trim. Putting a drop cloth down will help protect your driveway from any paint drippings.
Pro Tip: Save yourself some back pain and set the garage door so that you can manually raise and lower it as you clean and paint.
Step 2: Strip the Door
This step will probably be the most tedious depending on what shape your garage door is in, but it’s important! Use a paint scraper or wire brush to remove any existing loose paint. You can also use a chemical stripper and a sanding sponge or a circular sander. Removing old paint will give you a crisp, clean surface to work with and help the new paint job last even longer.
Step 3: Prime the Door
Choose a primer that is appropriate for the material of your garage door. Apply the primer to both the inside and outside of your garage door (think about how it will look when it’s open) using a wide paintbrush, paint roller, or paint sprayer and let the primer dry for at least 12 hours.
Pro Tip: Prime and paint your garage door under proper weather conditions. Don’t let your paint get washed away with rain, but it’s also best to avoid direct sunlight.
Step 4: Paint the Door
Once the primer is nice and dry (touch a few spots on the garage to make sure it’s not wet or sticky), choose a clean paintbrush, roller, or sprayer to get started. If using a sprayer, we recommend practicing on a piece of cardboard to avoid mistakes on the actual door. Let the paint dry and apply another coat.
Pro Tip: Semi-gloss sheens are recommended for easy maintenance. Additionally, if any paint managed to get on the glass of your garage door window, you can remove it using a razor blade.
Wherever your garage projects take you this year, from garage door color ideas to installation, we are here to help! Our focus is on topline brands so you can feel confident in any choice you make. To learn more about our commercial and residential garage door services, contact Champion Overhead Door today.
Social Blurb: When you think of curb appeal, do you ever think of garage doors? Garage doors command a lot of attention when it comes to a home’s exterior! And while many homeowners will keep up with painting the exterior of their home, the garage door goes easily forgotten. If you’ve been thinking about improving the look of your home’s exterior or freshening up your garage door, click the link in our bio to read our latest blog on best practices for giving your garage door an easy upgrade.