How to Paint a Garage to Make it Look Like Wood
Beautiful wood-clad garage doors can instantly add value to your home. Unfortunately, real wood doors can cost a small fortune. Paint, on the other hand, costs very little and can transform your boring white garage doors in a weekend. Faux painting your garage is very much like faux painting any other part of your house. Use a little creativity and experimentation until you get it just right. Your neighbors will be impressed. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Power washer
- Low tack tape
- Tinted primer
- 1/4-inch nap roller
- Paint brush
- Paint
- Glaze
- Rags
Instructions
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1
Power wash the garage door. Power washers can be rented by the hour from a local rental center. Use the power washer to loosen flaking paint and to thoroughly clean the garage door. Allow door to dry.
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2
Use low tack tape and newspaper to protect any areas that you do not want painted. Remove glass and decorative hardware from the garage door.
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3
Use a roller to apply tinted primer. Have your local home improvement store add tint to a regular can of white primer. Using tinted primer now will mean that you have to add less coats of paint later and it will keep your paint color truer.
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4
Roll on a base coat of brown paint. Choose a brown that closely matches the type of wood you are trying to imitate. If your garage door has decorative insets, use both a brush and roller and work from the inside of each section outward.
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5
Mix four parts glaze to one part paint. Add more glaze or more paint until you get the consistency you like. Glaze will allow you to apply the mixture with a rag and will also extend the drying time so you can perfect you faux painting job.
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6
Dip two rags in water and ring out until only damp. Take one of the rags and dip into the paint mixture. Begin wiping onto the garage door, using the clean wet rag to wipe the paint mixture off, creating the faux wood effect. Work in small sections, stepping back often to evaluate your work.
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Faux finishing is an artistic process. Continue wiping the paint mixture on and off until you get the look just right.
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Tips & Warnings
Garage door hardware, like wrought iron hinges, can really enhance the look of a faux wood door and more closely imitate the real thing. Hardware can be found where you buy garage doors and online at sites like the one listed in the "Resources" section below.
