The Ultimate Garage Door Painting Guide
As a homeowner, you can’t ignore the fading, chipping and peeling paint on your garage door. It’s likely the first and last thing you see when you leave and return home. Moreover, it’s the first thing others notice when they pass by. Fortunately, there are many ways to restore your garage door to its former glory, and one of the most effective options is painting it.
Can You Paint a Garage Door?
A new coat of paint can enhance your garage’s appearance regardless of your door material. No matter if you have a metal, composite or wood garage door, you can find a suitable paint type to transform your garage door’s look.
Before you purchase a new can of paint, you want to consider your garage’s current condition. If it’s in good working order and you can expect it to hold up for the foreseeable future, paint can be a cost-effective and worthwhile solution for upgrading your door’s appearance and longevity.
However, installing a new door might be better if your garage door is older or worn down. In that case, investing in a new garage door would likely be more cost-effective and you can fix your garage door’s appearance while upgrading its important parts and mechanisms.
Best Practices for Painting Your Garage Door
When painting your garage door, following suitable techniques and methods will help you complete the job correctly and ensure you’re happy with the end result. Here are some best practices to help you get started:
Choose Suitable Paint
One of the most critical components of painting your garage door is choosing the right paint for your door’s material. When browsing paints, check the labels to ensure they meet your door material’s manufacturer recommendations. For example, you may not want to apply an oil-based paint to a steel garage door — an acrylic option would help you achieve a similar flat finish to what you had before. Additionally, you’ll want to select a proper primer.
Check the Weather
The last thing you want is for it to rain halfway through painting or to work in extreme heat or humidity. The heat can be uncomfortable and lead to paint drying in certain areas before blending in, which you have to reapply. Check the weather forecast in the days leading up to when you want to paint, so you can avoid weather issues.
Organize Your Materials and Tools
Gather your painting tools and materials, including:
- All-purpose cleaner
- Bucket
- Exterior paint
- Exterior primer
- Flat scrapper
- Garden hose
- Handheld paint pail
- Paint stirrers
- Paintbrush
- Painters tape
- Rags
- Respirator mask
- Roller frame
- Roller heads
- Rubber gloves
- Safety goggles
- Sandpaper
- Sponge
- Step ladder
- Wire brush
How to Paint a Garage Door
Once you are ready to start and have all the needed tools, it’s time to begin painting. Here are our step-by-step tips for painting your garage door:
1. Prepare
Before painting, you must remove the old paint and smooth the surface. Following these steps will ensure your door is ready for priming and painting:
- Scrape and sand: First, put your goggles and mask on to prevent breathing in dust and getting debris in your eyes. Start removing old paint and prepping the surface with a scraper. Next, sand and smooth the surface with sandpaper.
- Clean and rinse: Washing the door will ensure the paint adheres to the surface. Start by hosing the surface to lift debris and then scrub and clean it with your sponge and dish soap, removing dirt and grime.
- Wipe down: Use a rag to remove excess water. Let your door air dry completely before taping and priming.
2. Tape
Taping your garage door will prevent you from getting paint on all of the areas you don’t intend to paint. Use masking or painter’s tape to cover all trim, hardware, windows, gaskets and other areas you want to avoid getting paint on.
3. Prime
Once you’ve taped the door, you can begin priming the surface. Using an angled brush, thinly paint or coat the panels and their recesses with the primer, wiping away excess paint as you go along. After finishing the panels, move on to the stiles and rails. These are the vertical and horizontal edges surrounding the panels. Use the roller frame to coat the stiles and rails, priming small sections to maintain a wet edge.
4. Paint
Once the primer is set and dry, apply the paint or undercoat. Use the roller brush to coat the panels. Then, paint the stiles and rails around the panels. You can then use a paintbrush to paint the trim and frames.
5. Apply Additional Coatings
If your door needs a second coat or topcoat, wait 24 hours until the paint is completely dry, and then apply the second paint layer.
FAQs About Painting Garage Doors
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about garage door painting:
What’s the Best Paint for a Garage Door?
Generally, the best paint for a garage door is 100% acrylic paint. These paints are durable and provide additional protection against the elements. However, depending on your garage door material and desired look, you may opt for an oil-based paint. Check with your door’s manufacturer’s recommendations beforehand to choose the right option.
What’s the Best Paint for Wood Garage Doors?
Acrylic paint can be the best for painting wood garage doors. This paint can repel ultraviolet rays from the sun, which can wear down the wood over time. It can also be waterproof and dry quicker than alternative paint types. Acrylic paint also offers an elegant shine and finish, which you may prefer.
What’s the Best Paint for Metal Garage Doors?
Oil-based exterior and acrylic paints can be best for your metal garage door. These paints can withstand the elements and be water resistant, preventing rust and corrosion, which can impact the appearance of metal. Choosing between the two comes down to the finish you want to achieve.
Do You Need to Prime a Garage Door Before Painting?
While some paints don’t need a primer to apply well, adding an initial primer layer to the door can ensure the door’s material adheres to the paint better. Check the paint’s label to see if you need a primer.
What’s the Cost of Painting a Garage Door?
The cost of painting your garage door can depend on the number of garage doors, paint type, supplies, materials and preparation. Generally, you can expect to pay a few hundred dollars to paint the door. If your door needs an update, you may be able to save money in the long run by replacing your garage door with a newer model instead.
Upgrade Your Garage Door With Drake Reed Door Co.
Painting your garage door can enhance your garage door’s appearance and life span. However, a new paint coat might not be a worthwhile improvement if you have an older door. That’s where we can help.
Drake Reed Door Co. offers high-quality door replacement, installation and maintenance services. With over 50 years of industry experience, we help you find a garage door that fits your home well and matches your personal design preferences. If you can’t find a garage door you like in our available collection, our Clopay doors offer limitless customization to help you create the ideal garage door.
Contact us today to request an estimate for a brand-new garage door!
9 Tips To Make Your Garage More Secure
Once every 26 seconds, a home break-in occurs, leading to an average property loss of $2,799. With the stakes so high, it’s paramount to protect yourself. Securing every part of your home will reduce your vulnerability to intruders.
While you may be worried about criminals breaking in through a window or front door, your garage door should also be a concern. According to the FBI, 9% of burglars break into homes through a garage door.
To keep your home safe from intruders, here are our top tips on how to secure a garage door.
1. Replace Your Old Garage Door
A warped, faded garage door does more than detract from your home’s curb appeal and drives up your energy bills. Any gaps or openings may give criminals a tempting target for accessing your house.
Upgrading to a new garage door with ample security features will improve your home’s value and make it less likely that a robber will gain access.
Garage door security features you should look for include:
- A multi-point locking system
- A Euro profile cylinder lock
- Locking rods
- A garage door opener with a “rolling” code
2. Tint Your Garage Door Windows
One way to keep would-be intruders out of your garage is to conceal what you store there. If a burglar sees things like expensive tools, electronics or fitness equipment, they may be unable to resist.
In addition to keeping your garage door closed, tint your windows to limit what people can see inside, while allowing light to flow in.
Tinted security film is easy to install and makes your window harder to break.
3. Install a Security System
Did you know homes that lack a security system are 300% more likely to experience a break-in?
When interviewed on their habits and motivations, 83% of robbers claimed that they look for a security system before they break in, and 60% said they do not enter a home if they see a system is in place.
By installing a security system, you can protect your investment and deter would-be robbers.
4. Buy Outdoor Motion-Sensing Lights
When someone is looking to break into your home, they will find ways to do it discreetly. They may hide behind shrubbery, lurk in the shadows or come out at night. When protecting your garage, give thieves no way to hide.
Installing motion-sensing lights is a cost-effective way to scare off nighttime robbers. If someone tries to rob you in the dark, a sudden flood of bright light might startle them enough to chase them away.
When installing motion-sensing lights, place them strategically, ensuring there is no way a burglar can deactivate them.
5. Install a Camera
In addition to a security system, install a camera by your garage door. Looking at footage from the camera will allow you to spot any suspicious activity happening near your home.
Plus, if a robber sees a security camera that will record their features, they will be less likely to proceed with a break-in. Even if a robbery happens, a camera will collect evidence you can give the police to aid their investigation.
6. Change Your Security Code
While you may want to use an easy-to-remember number like your birthday or wedding date for your garage passcode, doing so makes you more likely to experience a crime. According to the Bureau of Justice, 29.5% of home robberies are by someone the victim knows.
To keep your garage door secure, do not use a number a friend, relative or neighbor could effortlessly guess. Instead, use a random number combination. If you write the number down, put it somewhere no one else can find it.
As an extra security measure, change your passcode at least twice a year. If you give this number to a housesitter, change it once they leave.
7. Hide Your Garage Remote
Burglars know most people keep their garage remote in their car, giving them almost immediate access to a home.
Instead of leaving the garage door in your glove box or attached to your visor, take it inside. If you do not want to carry around a bulky remote, upgrade to a universal remote you can keep on your keychain or switch to a garage door with smart technology.
8. Block the Emergency Release Cord
As online videos have revealed, robbers can break into your garage in only six seconds by using a metal coat hanger to engage the emergency release cord.
While some people recommend cutting the cord or using a zip tie to minimize this risk, these methods can compromise your garage door’s safety.
Rather than relying on DIY solutions, buy a steel safety plate that can block the cord from outside threats while still giving you access in an emergency.
9. Lock Doors and Use Interior Padlocks
While it may seem like a no-brainer, if an access door allows entry into your garage, keep it constantly locked and deadbolted.
To add security to your garage, attach a padlock to the track above the rollers. While this might require drilling, it will ensure your garage door will not budge when you are not home. When you want to use the door again, remove the lock.
Contact Drake Reed Door Co. to Find a Secure Garage Door and Opener System
If these garage security tips have inspired you to make your home safer from potential burglars, count on us at Drake Reed Door Co.
For over 50 years, our expert technicians and staff have helped customers across Central Pennsylvania secure their homes with repair and installation services. If you are in the market for a new garage door, we can help you buy and install a new garage door and opener system with built-in security features.
If you are interested in our services and live in Central PA, call us at 717-266-2698 or contact us online for more information!
