Painting Garage Doors

Steel Garage Doors

Have you ever been asked, "When it's time to repaint my garage door, what type of paint should I use?" or "What preparations need to be made before repainting my garage door?". The following instructions will answer these and other questions you may have been asked about proper painting practices for steel garage doors.

  1. First and foremost, any garage door surface that is going to be repainted must be properly prepared to assure the continued performance of the coating system. Therefore it is necessary to clean the painted surface. The following are recommended levels of detergents or household ammonia to use:
    • One cup of Tide, or other common detergents which contain less than 0.5% phosphate, dissolved into five gallons of warm water.
      NEVER BLEND CLEANSERS OR DETERGENTS WITH BLEACH.
    • One cup of household ammonia dissolved into five gallons of water (room temperature).
    The garage door may be washed with either solution. The use of a well-soaked cloth, sponge, brush (with very soft bristles) or low pressure spray washer is recommended. Once the door is washed, thoroughly rinse with clean water to eliminate the possibility of residue.
  2. Surface imperfections such as minor scratches, which have not left the metal substrate exposed, can be lightly sanded or buffed to create a smoother surface. Care must be taken, however, not to expose the substrate. Rusting is greatly increased when the metal substrate is exposed.
  3. Exposed metal must be treated to prevent rust from forming. To do so, sand the general area lightly and use a primer* specifically designed to protect any exposed galvanized steel from corrosion.
  4. After the door has been properly prepared, it must be coated within 24 hours with a high-quality latex exterior house paint. The paint must be thoroughly mixed before using. Mechanical mixing is recommended to assure that no settling on the bottom of the container remains.
  5. The surface must be completely dry prior to painting. Painting should be done in the early morning. Avoid painting when temperatures are below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Apply a uniform coat at the manufacturer's recommended dry film thickness.

The above instructions are only a generalized summation of proper painting practices and in no way cover all aspects of repainting steel garage doors.

*Glidden Galvanized Metal Primer 5229, PPG Galvanized Steel Primer #6-209, or equivalent primers specifically designed for galvanized steel surfaces.

Downloadable Information:

Download a PDF file of Steel Garage Door Painting Practices.


Jeld-Wen Composite Garage Doors

Waterborne all-acrylic exterior latex finishes with a U.V. inhibitor are most compatible with our primer and are our recommended finish. These have a chemical affinity for the primer and allow the whole system to “breathe,” while affording durability and appearance equal to or better than solvent-borne systems. These top coats are also user-friendly, posing no flammability or health problems during application, and clean up easily. Oil-based paints (employing drying oils such as linseed or tung oils) and some alkyd enamel paints are compatible with the primer, but are not as highly rated for durability. While lacquer top coats may work reasonably well, they are not recommended over latex primers due to the strong solvents they contain. Aside from the flammability and toxicity issues involved with their use, their adhesion to acrylic primer is poor. Be sure to select a finish coating specifically intended for the job, derived from a reputable coatings manufacturer. Make certain that it is a top quality product with a list of ingredients and application instructions on the label. Read the label thoroughly and follow the instructions explicitly.

Thinning the Finish Coating

Most finish coatings are supplied ready to use with little or no thinning necessary for application. If some thinning is required, see manufacturer’s suggestions on the paint label. Avoid thinning oil-based and alkyd materials with anything but pure mineral spirits (paint thinner). The use of kerosene, lacquer thinner, turpentine or reclaimed solvents of any kind to thin oil-based paints or enamel finishes is not recommended. Some alkyd enamel systems are sold too thick to spray. This allows the manufacturer to meet various states’ solvent emissions regulations. Avoid those brands, which require too much thinning.

Finish Coat Application

The finish coat of paint should be applied in accordance with the recommendation on the paint manufacturer’s label, paying strict attention to proper covering instructions, temperature and humidity at the time of the painting, and other specific requirements. Avoid painting in hot, humid weather or when the temperature is likely to drop below 50°F before the paint fully cures. Two coats of paint are recommended on all six sides of each section. If spray application is used, apply a minimum of two coats, waiting for the first coat to dry thoroughly before spraying the second. An excessively thick coat is undesirable as well. Two thin coats are better than one thick coat. If the job calls for a high gloss, let the first coat dry thoroughly then lightly sand the surface and remove dust with a clean, dry cloth before applying the second coat.

Downloadable Information

Download a PDF file of the Jeld-Wen Finishing Instructions.

Download a PDF file of the Jeld-Wen Staining Instructions.