Because the garage door spends its entire life facing the weather it’s not uncommon for the panel exteriors to start looking a bit gnarly while the door as a whole is still in fine working order. Because the door is still working like a charm you don’t want to call for a new garage door installation, yet a worn and weather-weary door is going to drag down the curb appeal - and by extension the value - of the entire house, so something has to be done. What about painting? Can overhead doors be painted? Should they be painted? Our garage door service team takes a look at these questions below.
Can Garage Doors be Painted?
In a word, “yes”. All but a tiny fraction of garage doors have panels that will accept paint. (More on this in a moment.) The most important thing is to get the right paint and prepare the surface properly.
Should Garage Doors be Painted?
This is maybe a slightly trickier question. Deciding whether to paint the door is not the same as calling for garage door repairs because you have a stuck garage door. If the door needs to be fixed it needs to be fixed. But a door doesn’t need to be painted to work well, so the decision on whether to paint is not a judgment call.
The material the door panels are made from will also impact whether or not you should try to paint them. As we said most garage door panels will accept paint. But some will accept it better than others. Wooden panels, for instance, are easy to paint, while metal panels typically have a baked-on finish that you might not want to cover unless, of course, it's weather-worn.
How to Paint Your Littleton Garage Door
Okay, by now you’ve decided to go ahead with painting the garage door, but you’re not sure how to go about it. Fear not. The intrepid team at Arapahoe have you covered. Just follow these simple steps to ensure the paint job goes smoothly and stands the test of time.
1: Plan Around the Weather
Paint is finicky stuff. Apply it when the weather is too cold, too hot, or too humid and it might start flaking off after only a few months. For this reason, you should keep an eye on the weather forecast and select a day when it's going to be warm with low humidity. Also, it's better if it's overcast rather than sunny.
2: Disengage the Motor Before You Start
So your cloudy, warm, and dry day has arrived and you’re ready to paint. Don’t forget to disengage the motor before you do. That’s easily done by pulling the red disconnect lever above the door. Once the motor is disengaged you can raise and lower it to whatever height you want. You’ll get a more even paint job and you’ll save your back in the process.
3: Sand Before You Paint
Take a good look at all the panels on the door. Is there chipped or peeling paint? Are there patches of rust and corrosion? If so, you should be sure to sand the panels first to create a smooth agreeable surface for the paint to stick to.
4: Alternatively, Powerwash the Door Before Painting
If you don’t feel like sanding to remove loose paint and other materials from the door before painting, consider power washing the door. The high-pressure water will remove any loose paint chips while also removing dirt and grime that could undermine the ability of the paint to adhere properly.
5: Use Painter’s Tape
Cover any parts of the nice clean door you don't want to paint with painter's tape. That might include handles, hinges, windows, and trim. And while you're in a prepping state of mind, find a cloth or plastic sheet to lay on the ground so your driveway/garage doesn’t wind up looking like a Jackson Pollock painting.
6: Prime the Door
If you want the paint to adhere to the door and provide thorough, even coverage you’ll want to prime the panels first. The important thing here is to make sure the primer you buy is designed to be applied to vinyl, steel, wood, or whatever material garage door panels are made from. If you decide to skip the primer you’ll wind up having to repaint the door much sooner than if you primed it.
7: Apply the Paint
You’ve chosen the right paint, disconnected the motor, sanded or power washed the panels, taped off things you don’t want to be painted, and primed the panels - and you did all that on a warm (not hot), overcast dry day. Now you’re finally ready to apply the paint. Whether you work from the bottom to the top of the top to the bottom is up to you. People do it both ways.
Once you’ve finished, let the door dry for 12 hours then take a look and see what you’ve got. If the finish is uneven and you can see panels under the paint, you’ll need to apply a second coat. If everything looks great it’s time to clean up and call it a day.
For Expert Garage Door Repair in Littleton Call Arapahoe
Painting the garage door can make the entire exterior of your house look better. And if you need overhead garage door repair or you want to order a new garage door, contact the team at Arapahoe Garage Door by calling (303) 730-0232.