Paint the bare aluminum with a primer before top coating. Apply both coats of primer to the door and let fully dry before turning over to prime the other side. Give the door plenty of time to dry between coats, normally between 6 to 12 hours but sometimes up to 18. If you have a metal door in your home that doesn't go with the rest of your decor, don't fear, you can paint it. Eliminate any residue with a solvent like denatured alcohol or mineral spirits. Each product should say which others they are compatible with, but you can ask for help when purchasing them if you’re unsure. If this is the case, use a straight, single edge razor blade to score and then remove this material. We were told that the original primer on it would be fine. This will give the paint much longer to dry fully before the edges are pressed tightly against the stripping. When you paint a door that faces outside, if you use an interior type of paint, the paint will stain, possibly dissolve, and not withstand the weather. I LOVE the idea of being able to paint metal without the sanding and priming! This article has been viewed 579,664 times. "It helped me a great deal. Don't Replace Your Kitchen Cabinets - Pa... Don't Replace Your Kitchen Cabinets - Paint Them. You need to apply a primer if you are using a different type of paint than was used before on a previously painted door. Once the second coat of primer is dry, use a roller to apply 2 coats of paint, letting the first coat dry for 6 hours and the second coat dry for 12 hours. If paint comes off, it is latex. If a door is new, the factory most likely applied primer. How do I paint a steel door that has bubbles on it due to the sun? Different primers will take different amounts of time to dry in different climates. Roll the paint on the raised areas. You need to lay down at least two topcoats to get a uniform appearance. If paint comes off, it is latex. Clean the door well to remove oils, dirt and any other surface contaminants. If painting both sides of the door, you'll need to work one side at a time. You might consider a white appliance paint designed for stoves and grills for a steel door that gets hit with direct sun all day, as it can prevent peeling. It's better to have that happen before the faces are painted. Make sure to stir up your paint prior to using and remember, the key to painting anything is with thin, multiple coats. This can be overcome by painting the door with a primer first, before top coating it with the water based paint (latex or acrylic). He was very, "I feel that I can do this myself and save money by not buying a new door and getting the exact color that I want. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paints. If you live in a colder climate where it may take longer for the paint to dry, you should paint the door in its frame. Yes. Interior How to paint doors and trims Create a welcoming entrance to any room of the house with the right tools and techniques for the job. Determine what finish exists on the door by rubbing it with denatured alcohol soaked clean rag. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. To learn how to disassemble a steel door before painting it, keep reading! He knew exactly what he was talking about. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Can I use a rust inhibitor over a lot of rust? Brushing might be the one that gains popularity among those ways. View our Privacy Policy here. Begin by applying paint to the inside of the top panels. Sections 11 & 12: Roll the paint down the sides of the door. Wipe down the door with a dry cloth or leave it in the sun for an hour or two before moving on. This article received 13 testimonials and 93% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Last Updated: June 20, 2019 The paint did not adhere well to the door surface because it wasn't able to bond well to the existing finish. Approved. If there is a lot of dust, or if the old paint has come loose in the sanding process, use a vacuum cleaner to remove the majority of the dust before wiping it down. Painting the doors in your home can make them look brand new. Some of my favorite whites for trimwork and doors are Benjamin Moore’s Cloud White and Dove White in either semi-gloss or satin. Use sandpaper to smooth the surface, and wipe the dust off with a clean, damp rag. Before you apply the primer and paint, lightly sand the door with 400-grit sandpaper so the primer and paint will stick to it better. Always be sure you use an exterior paint when you are repainting your front door, whether it is metal or wood. The builder never had the door painted on the garage side. You don’t need to sand the whole surface of the door thoroughly, only enough to give the primer something to stick to. Cut around the panels of the door or any other trim details using the paint brush. I have an exterior basement door that is down a conc... Repair/repaint spot on door damaged by rubbing alcohol? ", https://www.familyhandyman.com/doors/how-to-remove-a-door/view-all/, https://homefixated.com/exterior-steel-door-painting-tips/, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-paint-a-metal-door/, स्टील के दरवाजे को पेंट करें (Paint a Steel Door), consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. You can use the paintbrush or a small 1/4″ nap paint roller or a foam roller to paint the smooth areas of the door. The jamb is the interior sides of a door frame where a door is secured. Most people use the terms door jamb and door frame interchangeably, but there is a difference. ", "This article answered many of my questions. fearful. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. There are certain kinds of paint that are great at covering metal so you can decorate your home the way you want. ", "Thank you for the information. It is a metal exterior door that gets full afternoon sun. More interior door … It's completely up to your taste preference, but the sharpest look is black with white trim. What color should I paint the door if inside house is green with black trim and outside the house is white and blue? If you paint the door with a brush, you get all kinds of brush strokes in the finished product.". If I have a steel door with a lot of paint that has flaked off, do I need to sand the door down to the metal to remove the old paint? Pro tip: When painting edges, some paint inevitably slops onto the faces of the door. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. You might want to remove the weather stripping around the edge of the doorframe for a day or two after reattaching the door. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent They will likely tell you how many coats you’ll need, as well as how long you should leave each coat to dry. Then, paint the center stile. If the door has a vertical center stile, paint this next and then blend in the brush marks from the center stile when you paint the horizontal rails. 5. We didn’t realize it. There may be areas of window glazing that have pushed out onto the glass or frame on a door with a window or the sidelights that may accompany a door. With a short nap roller cover, and the right sized roller (use a 4-inch roller if there are many decorative indents or rails on your door) it is possible to get a very smooth finish by rolling. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 579,664 times. Heat guns and similar tools might help the paint dry faster, but won't dry it evenly and could even damage the paint if it is too intense. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c2\/Paint-a-Steel-Door-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Paint-a-Steel-Door-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c2\/Paint-a-Steel-Door-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1358976-v4-728px-Paint-a-Steel-Door-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"