How to Paint a Garage Door

The Naked Writer

This article will detail the steps needed to complete a professional quality paint job on a garage door.

Things You'll Need

• Garden hose
• Scrub brush
• JoMax House Cleaner
• Scraper
• Wire brush
• Paint Brushes
• Primer
• Paint
• Caulk

Instructions

1. Wash the door down with a garden hose to remove loose dirt and paint. many painters use a pressure washer. I don't like to because it forces water deep into the wood.

2. After the initial wash down, scrub door with JoMax House Cleaner. It is a bleach activating agent that will clean and soften any loose paint. Follow the directions on the bottle for best results.

3. 

   Now it is time to scrape and wirebrush the door. This part sucks to say the least, but it has to be done. Remember that the new paint is only as good as whatever it is sticking to. If you paint over an unstable surface, the new paint will come off.

4. Allow the door to dry completely. If it is hot and the door is in the sun, it should be dry in 48 hours. Allow more time for different condidtions. If there is moisture under the new paint it will eventually evaporate and the new paint will lift off.

5. After the door is dry, use a good 50 year rated paintable caulk to fill all cracks. This is very important for keeping water out of the finished product. It will also make the door look smooth and brand new when finished. Allow to dry according to directions on product before next step.

6. Next prime the door with a good exterior primer. I suggest Zinnser Bullseye 123 primer. This primer is great for metal, wood or any surface. If there are any windows in the door, paint around them and don't worry about keeping it off the glass. We'll take care of that later.

7. Allow the primer to dry for 24 hours

8. Apply a coat of paint over top of the primer. Allow it to dry for 24 hours.

9. Apply a second layer of paint. This gives a second layer of protection against the elements. The sun will bake the door's wood with extreme heat. The winter brings cold. Rain brings moisture that will swell the wood and it will shrink and crack when it dries back out.

10. Now if you have windows, we need to scrape them clean. It is very simple to do. Take a razer knife and cut around the edge where the wood meets the glass. Now take a flat razer scraper and scrape the paint off the glass.

11. 

    You are done! Check out the difference in the photo. The preparation before painting is time consuming and hard, but keep in sight the end result and it becomes easier!

12. Doing a job for yourself will bring you a lot of satisfaction and happiness. Knowing you can do for yourself will also make you feel more in control of your problems and lower your stress.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your paint brushes in a ziplock baggie and in a cool dark place in between coats and it will be fresh every time you pull it out. This is a major time saver!