Your garage door makes up a significant portion of your home’s exterior, so giving it a fresh coat of paint is a great, low-investment way to dramatically improve your entire home’s appearance. In today’s blog, our Cary garage door contractor lets you know how it’s done.
Plan on taking a few days
Before starting, be aware that most garage doors need about two or three days to paint, as they need to dry in-between each layer. If you work a 9-5 job, this is a good project to save for a three-day weekend. (Of course, you can always call one of our Cary garage door contractors to do it for you!)
Account for the weather
You’ll also want to check the weather forecast before getting started. The ideal temperature for painting a garage door is between 50 and 75 degrees, with low humidity and indirect sunlight.
Get the right paint and primer
Wooden garage doors, aluminum garage doors, and vinyl garage doors all require different types of paint and primer, so be sure to select paint and primer that are appropriate for your garage door type. A gallon of paint ought to be more than adequate for a two-car garage door, plus a bit to spare. If you’ll be putting a lighter color over a darker one, though, you may require more paint.
Clean and smooth the garage door
Prepping your garage door will ensure that the paint goes on easily and doesn’t peel or flake off over time. Put on protective gear (work gloves, dust mask, and safety goggles) and remove any rusted or chipped spots with a wire brush. Then, sand the areas with fine-grit sandpaper to create a smooth base. Lastly, clean the entire surface with all-purpose cleaner and a sponge. Once all dirt and grime have been removed, rinse the door with a garden hose and let it dry.
Tape it down
Once the garage door is dry, put down heavy-duty painter’s tape to prevent paint from going anywhere you don’t want it to go. Protect the driveway and garage interior by laying out a drop cloth both inside and outside the door.
Prime and Paint It
Here’s the best order of operations we’ve found for painting garage doors:
- Go from bottom to top.
- Use a high-quality 2-inch nylon paintbrush to prime doors’ inner panels.
- Prime the stiles (areas in-between the panels).
- Allow the primer to dry for about 12 hours.
- Begin painting, again going from bottom to top and starting with the inner panels first.
- Let the paint dry for about 12 hours.
- If there are uneven patches or spots where the old color shows through, apply a second coat.
All said and done, you’ll have a garage door that looks brand spanking new!
Get more help from our Cary garage door company
If you’ve got your hands full and need help painting or maintaining your garage door for you, call All American Overhead Garage Door. We’ll be happy to keep your garage door working safely and properly for years to come. To schedule an appointment for a free estimate, click here!
