A new paint job can sometimes make an aging garage door look as good as new! It’s a great way to give your home a makeover while improving your equity. Interested in painting your garage door? Here’s how to tackle the job in an afternoon.
Water Based Paints
Keep in mind that you can no longer buy oil based paints due to safety concerns. (It’s a lead issue!) Oil based paints are only available to painting professionals. (Which is a good reason to hire a professional — but we do encourage the DIY spirit.) Reputable brands you can choose from include SICO, Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, DULUX, Behr, etc.
How Much Paint Will You Need?
Naturally, the amount of paint required will depend on the size of your garage door. Your average double wide garage door will require about a gallon of paint (about four liters). It’s best to err on the side of caution. You’ll want to have a little left over for touch up jobs if something should damage your door.
Preparing to Paint
Before painting your door, wash the surface of each section with a trisodium phosphate (TSP) cleaner to remove any greasy or oily residue as well as any chalking. Rinse thoroughly with a hose and let it dry. You might sand down the door with sandpaper to rough up the surface.
Apply masking tape around any trim, edges, etc. Arrange a drop cloth underneath the door to catch drips.
The Paint Job
Next, you’ll want to apply a base primer on any areas where the enamel has worn out exposing the steel. Let this dry for at least 16 hours.
Then you’ll want to apply a first coat. Be careful to wipe up any dribbles and smooth out any blotches. You may need to add a second coat, but let the first coat dry for several hours before proceeding.