How to paint a garage door
We have previously looked at how to maintain and restore a wood garage door, but what about steel, chromadek or aluminium garage doors. Although these doors are reasonably easy to keep clean with a regular wash, staining does happen over time.
Aluminium, steel or chromadek garage doors are installed with a powder-coated finish, which lasts for many years with proper maintenance and care.
Garage doors are constantly exposed to the elements. Rust and water stains can damage the finish. That's why it is important to regularly hose down and clean a garage door - to prevent these stains from becoming permanent.
How to paint a garage door
Preparation
Use a soft scrubbing brush and warm water with an added squirt of Handy Andy to clean down the door and remove as much dirt and grime as possible. Make sure that you wash between the panel sections, as this is where quite a bit of dirt tends to collect. Rinse the door thoroughly with a hose or high-pressure spray.
If there are any stains remaining, repeat the washing process. Although you might not be able to remove the stains completely, you want the surface to be as clean as possible before priming and painting. Let the door dry overnight.
Where any finish has peeled or cracked, you will need to attend to this prior to painting. The same applies to any rust that has formed on the surface of a steel door. Follow instructions for rust removal to ensure the surface is prepped properly.
Painting
There are various options for painting a steel, aluminium or chromadek garage door. You have the choice of painting by hand, with a Bosch PFS spray system, or using Rust-Oleum spray paint. Plascon Metalcare Waterbased Enamel offers a semi-gloss finish that protects and
enhances metal finishes.Plascon Velvaglo is not quite as shiny and has leaves a satin-sheen, which helps to disguise any imperfections or touch-ups.
Both the above products can be applied with a paint brush or foam roller, while the waterbased enamel can be applied using a Bosch PFS spray system. Waterbased enamels are easy to use, offer a durable finish and allow easy clean up when using a spray system. The Rust-Oleum Universal range of spray paints come in a variety of colours and sheen levels. You will probably use three cans of paint for a double-size garage door, and at a cost of R80 per can, this is definitely the most affordable option.
Maintenance
A regular wipe down with warm water and mild detergent will ensure your newly painted garage door stays looking good for longer.