How To Paint A Garage Door

Learning how to paint a garage door involves several basic steps, including the most important step, the preparation of the garage door. Depending on the composition material, the prep and the paint differ widely. You'll also need to evaluate the type of abuse the door will take. All paint is not made equally and if you don't want to waste your time and effort, you'll need to carefully pick your paint and sealer. You'll need to pick up a a few basic items for the work, including;

• sealer
• sand paper
• patch material
• paint
• paint brushes
• drop cloth
• newspapers
• painter's tape

1. Select your paint. Matching paint to the structure or the main part of the house, in attached garages, may present a problem. Work with a trained paint expert to make sure you select a color that matches. Also confirm that your paint is designed for the garage door material. You can paint a metal door with any paint, but it may mean you need to repaint the next year. How to paint a garage door also includes making sure the paint you select matches weather conditions in your geographic area. Buying cheap, or unsuitable, paint simply uses up your labor dollar. Use a sample bit of pain, even if you need to buy it, to test the color choice. The sample will make sure you get the color just right. 
2. Prepare the area. Put down a paint drop cloth and tape off any edges on the frame or on the garage door hardware. If taping off the hardware isn't possible, remove the accessories so that the paint isn't all over the items. Nothing looks less professional than paint on everything. 
3. Prepare the door. Chip off any peeling paint and then sand the door down with the heavy-grade sandpaper. Once that's done, give the door a once over with the fine-grade paper. This is probably the most important step to make the paint stick to the door.
4. Apply the primer. Primer is a base coat that allows the paint to stick to the prior paint job. Water-base paints won't stick to oil paint, so it's important to buy a good primer. Let the primer dry according to the label recommendations. You may need a second primer coat, if the door was in bad shape and needed excessive sanding. 
5. Apply the first coat of paint. Let the primer dry, then carefully apply your first coat of paint. Make sure the paint fills any grooves, but don't add too much paint so that it drips. 
6. Sand any problem areas. If you had a few drips or a bug or two attacked the door, sand off the remains. 
7. Apply the next coat of paint. Make sure the first coat is totally dry and you've brushed off any remains from the sanding. If the air outside is moist or if it's been raining, your paint will need additional time to dry between coats. 
8. Evaluate the door for additional coats of paint. Let the paint dry totally and step back and look at the door from a distance. If there's any spot that looks shaded or uneven, you'll need to add another coat. 
9. Test the door. Test the door to make sure the paint doesn't chip when opening or closing the door. If it does, adjust the door and touch up the paint.