How to Paint a Garage Door

If your garage door is looking faded, chipped or just plain outdated, a fresh coat of paint is one of the most affordable ways to boost your home’s curb appeal. But before diving into how to paint a garage door or what color to go with, the most important step is making sure your door can actually be painted.

Can You Paint an Old Garage Door?

Painting an old garage door is a perfectly good way to refresh its appearance, but paint can only do so much. Before you grab a brush, take a close look at your door’s condition. A fresh coat of paint will make the door look good, but it won’t solve structural problems such as deep rust on a metal door, rotted wood or cracked and warped panels. In fact, the issue could get worse over time. If that sounds like your situation, contact Oregon City Garage Door for garage door repair services, and we’ll remove and fix the broken parts. Then, you can paint.

Garage Door Painting Tips for a Flawless Finish

Here’s how to get a professional-looking result when you paint your garage door:

• Clean the surface: Start by cleaning the entire surface with mild detergent and water to remove dirt, dust and grime, then let it dry.
• Sand and scrape: Once it’s dry, scrape off any loose or peeling paint, then lightly sand the door so the new finish has something to grip.
• Tape off hardware: Use painter’s tape to mask hinges, handles, weatherstripping and any windows. The tape will prevent paint from touching parts other than the door.
• Prime: Apply an exterior primer that matches your door material. For example, use a rust-inhibiting primer for metal doors or a stain-blocking primer for wood garage doors. Primer helps the paint adhere properly and gives you a more even, longer-lasting finish, so don’t skip this step.
• Paint: After the primer dries, apply exterior paint to ensure it lasts. Apply two thin, even coats, working from top to bottom and let the first coat dry before applying the second one. Check the manufacturer’s instructions to know how long to wait between coats. Use a roller for the flat panels and a brush to make sure paint gets into the recessed areas and edges.
• Let it cure: Keep the door closed for at least 24 hours, or however long it says on the product’s use instructions, to let the paint fully dry.

Upgrade Your Curb Appeal With Oregon City Garage Door

Painting your garage door is a solid DIY project, but it’s not the only way to get the look you want. If you’d rather skip the prep work and drying time, invest in a new garage door instead. At Oregon City Garage Door, we carry garage doors from top manufacturers like Clopay^®, Amarr, and Northwest Door. They come in different finishes, which means you can get a garage door in the color you want without the hassle of painting it yourself. We also offer garage door installation services backed by a one-year warranty and a manufacturer’s warranty on the door itself.

Call us at 503-662-7665 or schedule a new garage door estimate today. We’re available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., and on weekends by appointment.