Garage doors are a focal point of your home's exterior.
Since they are exposed to natural elements every day, they can deteriorate over time.
Applying fresh coats of paint on your garage doors can significantly improve the exterior appeal of your home.
Paint acts as an extra layer of protection to the doors, increasing their resilience to inclement weather conditions, dust and the harmful rays of the sun.
Paint is a cheaper fix that increases your doors' longevity and life span, which is what every homeowner needs.
If you are a fledgling DIY-er, who still doubts his design and construction ability, here is a step-by-step guide for you to follow.
Check the Weather Before embarking on a painting job, make sure to check the weather for any rain or snow that might be heading your way.
It is a challenge to take on exterior painting jobs since you need favourable weather conditions to ensure project success.
Before you paint your garage doors, make sure that the sun will be out for at least three days.
Ideally, you should start painting early in the day.
You need enough sunlight to allow the paint to dry properly.
Prepare your Tools and Equipment Get all materials and equipment ready before starting on this project.
Make sure to wear protective gear since you will be dealing with harmful chemicals later in the process.
Having everything within easy reach could help you save a few extra steps later, cutting your work time significantly.
Determine what material was used to make your garage door.
There are different types of paint for different surfaces.
Make sure to get the right one to save you time, money and effort.
Surface Prepping Do not think about skipping this step.
It is very important to prepare your surface if you want your paint job to last.
Start by scraping off any existing paint off your door with a putty knife.
To make sure that no existing paint remains, you may scrub the surface off with Trisodium Phosphate solution; using fine-grade sandpaper, sand off the garage door's surface.
Fill dents and holes with a wood putty and let it dry.
Caulk deep cracks, and sand down over it.
Wipe down saw dust, dirt and grit with a wet rag.
You may also want to sand metal parts to remove any rust that may have build up.
Once done, tape off areas that you do not want painted.
To prevent paint and primer marks from dripping all over your floor, cover it with old tarps or newspapers.
Using a roller, apply primer on your entire door.
Since rollers cannot reach detailed areas, you may want to use a brush for this task.
Primers are used as a base coat which is essential to produce paint jobs that look flat and even.
Without a primer, you risk having your door's old color show underneath your current paint job, which makes the finished product ugly.
Alternatively, you can pick paint that has a built-in primer if you do not want to go through as much prep work.
Cleaning Remove grime, dust and dirt by hosing it down with a power spray.
If you do not have a power spray, you may scrub down debris and dirt with a sponge soaked in all-purpose cleaner.
Let it dry.
Painting Using a roller or a brush, apply just enough paint on your door, making sure that coats are even and towards the same direction.
For best results, apply two to three coats of paint.
Check for any bubbles or lines that might have appeared, and sand them down gently.
Make sure to let the paint dry overnight before applying the next coat.
For metal doors, it is advised that four layers of paint be applied.