If you’ve found that your garage is looking a little tired or weather-beaten, painting your garage door is one of the quickest, easiest and most affordable ways to refresh your property exterior.
But, before you get your brushes out, there are a number of key factors to consider. For some garage doors, repainting them would be too difficult for a non-professional, and it could leave you with a messy finish. In some cases, the aged exterior might be a sign of more serious damage, which would mean you’d be better off replacing the door.
To help you decide whether or not you should paint your garage door, our experts have created this comprehensive guide, including a breakdown of what doors can be painted, the types of paint you need, and the process of painting the door.
What type of garage door can I paint?
How easy it is to paint your garage door will entirely depend on the type of door that it is.
Firstly, in terms of materials, a wooden garage door is the easiest to paint. You can also paint metal doors, but it will be more difficult to remove the existing layer of paint.
Secondly, you will need to consider the type of garage door. Those with a simpler, single-panel design can be repainted very successfully, even by a beginner.
But, if you have a more complex door, it will be very difficult for you to get a smooth, even finish across all the different edges, nooks and crannies.
For this reason, we wouldn’t recommend painting a roller or sectional garage door yourself.
What to consider before painting your garage door
If your garage door is of a style that is simple enough to paint, there are still some important points that you’ll need to consider.
Firstly, have you experienced problems with your door before?
Has your garage door experienced a number of faults, and already cost you a considerable amount in repairs? If so, it might not be worth investing your time and money in repainting it.
Then ask yourself, how extensive is the damage?
If there’s only a couple of little scratches, or one bit of damage in one single area, then it might be best to touch up the door, rather than give it a complete repaint.
To do this, simply get a colour matched paint, and paint a smooth, thin coat over the damaged area.
This is because – make no mistake – painting a garage door can be difficult, and very time consuming. And what’s more, it doesn’t always leave you with the results you want.
On this point, think about the level of quality that you want from the repaint.
Are you happy with a slightly messy or imperfect door? If you’re willing to compromise on this point, and settle for a less-than-flawless finish, try painting it yourself.
But, if you really want your garage door to stand the test of time, and for your home to achieve that pristine finish, we recommend hiring a professional to repaint the door for you.
What type of paint do you need?
If you have a metal garage door, the best paint to use is an acrylic latex exterior house paint. We also recommend using an exterior primer alongside the paint, as this will help you to achieve a smooth, even finish.
For a wooden garage door, we suggest using a paint that is microporous or moisture permeable. This will allow the wood to breathe, and prevent rotting, warping or cracking from occurring over time.
For example, Dulux offers a range of weather shield multi surface paints, which are widely used for these types of projects.
How to prepare your garage door
Before you start painting, you will need to prepare your garage door. This extra step will help you to achieve a neater finish and preserve your paintwork against general wear and tear, while also extending the lifespan of the door itself.
Firstly, remove the first layer of paint by rubbing down the door. You can do this with either a wire brush (for a metal door) or coarse sandpaper (for a wooden door).
Then, wash the door, using a weak, diluted detergent cleaner. This will ensure that the door is clean, and that any dust or dirt (which would appear bobbly if stuck in the paint) is removed.
Finally, allow the door to dry completely, before you start painting.
How to paint your garage door
Here are 4 simple steps to follow when painting your garage door:
1. Protect the areas that you aren’t painting
Lay a dust sheet on the ground and then secure it with tape. Then, securely cover the door handles, hardware and any other areas with two or three layers of masking tape.
2. Add the primer
Paint two even coats of primer onto the door. Allow the first coat to dry completely before moving on to the second. After the second coat, wait 24 hours before you apply the paint. Note: this step is only needed for wooden garage doors.
3. Paint the under coat
Start by painting two layers of under coat, using your chosen garage door paint. One coat might be sufficient, but if the colour isn’t strong enough with one layer, add another. Then, wait until the paint is fully dry (this should take around 2-4 hours).
4. Paint the top coat
Finally, paint the top coat. If you’re using a darker paint, we suggest doing this in two coats. However, if the paint is light, one coat should do it.
And if you have any questions, or if your garage door is in need of a refresh, get in touch with the Wolf Doors team today for a free quote.
Our garage door specialists work across Skipton, Harrogate and the surrounding areas, as trusted suppliers of premium garage doors.
