How to Prepare and Paint Metal Outside Doors

Prepare and paint metal outside doors, so the paint does not chip, peel and fall off the doors.

When a person adds a fresh coat of paint on exterior doors, it dresses up the look of any house. Preparing and painting metal doors requires certain steps that keep the surface in good shape, and makes the doors last for years to come. Even though metal doors never rot like wood, they can rust and expand and contract because of extreme weather. Weather extremes are the main cause for damage to the paint on a door's surface. Another reason paint peels off of a metal door's surface is when a door is not prepared or painted correctly.

Things You'll Need

• Two saw horses
• Exterior primer paint for metal
• Exterior Finish paint for painting primed door
• Sandpaper 300/400 grit wet/dry
• Paintbrush
• Soap detergent
• Rag
• Towel

Instructions

1. Remove all the hardware off the door, including the hinges, doorknob, deadbolt and any other items attached to the door. Lay the door across two saw horses that are about 5 feet apart.

2. Sand the front of the door's surface to a dull sheen. Repeat on the other side and all the edges and corners on the door.

3. Wash the whole door with warm soapy water, and rinse the soap residue off completely. Dry the door completely with a towel.

4. Paint all the edges on the door with primer. Next, paint one side of the door with primer, and let it dry for the recommended time instructed on the paint can. Turn the door over, and paint that side. Let it dry completely. Lightly sand all the painted surfaces, and wipe the sanded dust completely off. Repeat the process again by painting another coat of primer on the whole door again, and let it dry completely.

5. Lightly sand all the primed surfaces, and wipe the sanded dust completely off. Paint all the edges and one side of the door with the finished paint color, and let it dry for the recommended time instructed on the paint can. Next, paint the other side of the door, and let it dry. Lightly sand all the painted surfaces, and wipe the sanded dust completely off. Repeat the process again with another coat of the finish paint color on the whole door, and let dry completely. Re-install all the hardware back on the door, and put the door back on the hinges.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not skip sanding in between the paint layers. This helps each of the layers of paint adhere to each other causing a strong bond that will add years to your door's surface. The main type of paint finish that is recommended for painting on outside metal doors is exterior urethane.

References

• House Smart: Preparing and Painting Your Metal Exterior Doors