Painting an exterior metal door can seem like an impossible task to accomplish. However, following some tips and patience, the final result will surprise you.
Painting an exterior metal door is a simple task, as long as you keep in mind the following tips and steps to follow. These doors are highly sought after for the exterior due to their great resistance to different weather conditions and because they do not attract insects.
What’s more, offer security and deter intruders who wanted to enter by force. However, with time and changes in temperature, its appearance begins to deteriorate.
Before painting an exterior metal door
Before you start work on the door you must decide if you want to leave it in place or remove it to work on it. Our first advice is to remove it from its site. This will reduce the drops that occur when painting vertically.
If you do it with the door in a horizontal position, dripping won’t be a problem.
If you can’t get the door out, then you just have to be more careful. To remove them you have to remove the pins from the hinges.
Open the door as far as it will go and drive a nail into the base of the bolt. With a hammer, push the nail from the bottom up to loosen it.
Once you have removed all the bolts, proceed to remove the door and place it on some wooden trestles to start working. Remember to remove the hardware. Finally, cover with painter’s tape and paper the surfaces that you do not want to paint, such as glass, if it has any.
It is important to note that it is likely that you will not finish in a single day. That is, you have to analyze your circumstances well before removing the door.
Materials to get
These are the materials you will need to paint an exterior metal door and give it a complete makeover:
- Wire brush.
- Roller paint tray.
- Metal sandpaper number 150–180.
- Exterior primer and paint base for metal.
- Special degreaser such as white spirit and cloths to apply it.
- Safety and protection elements: gloves, mask, glasses.
- Foam roller and brush for the angles and recesses of the door.
- Remover. In case it has several layers of paint, you will have to apply this product to remove them before.
- Metal conditioner. It is used in case the door has rusty parts. New paint does not adhere properly over rust stains.
Step by step to paint an exterior metal door
Now that we have the door ready, let’s start with this step by step to make it look like new. We want to put an emphasis on safety and we remind you keep all these products away from children, So they can produce serious health problems.
Step 1
In case you have several previous coats of paint, we suggest use a stripper to remove them and achieve a better finish when you apply the new paint. First clean the surface and remove dust and other debris. Then, following the instructions on the label, apply the product in question.
Step 2
Once the old paint has loosened, sand and wire brush as needed. When there are no traces of paint left, apply a rust remover if you notice rusty parts of the door.
Step 3
Now yes, clean the entire door with turpentine or acetone to remove any dirt that may have remained. This way, you make sure that the products that follow are pinned.
Step 4
It is the turn of the primer or base to match the surface of the door and protect the metal. They come in different shades, so choose the one that most closely resembles the final color you will give it. Thus, perhaps you can give it less paint, since the base helps the final result.
step 5
To paint! Once the primer has dried, we start applying the first coat of paint.
We recommend that you read the label. They may recommend diluting it with a little turpentine and the proportions vary with the brand. Put some on the painter’s tray and use the roller to give a light first layer.
The brush or the paintbrush are left for the angles and the nooks and crannies.
It is important that you leave the necessary drying times. Do not let anxiety dominate you so that the work is perfect.
Usually, we are talking about 3 hours of drying, although each brand has its times. The number of coats of paint will depend on how the surface has been covered.
step 6
All hands are dry and the door is ready to turn around. Ideally, you work one side at a time. because you could mess up all the work you’ve already done.
In the event that the door is damaged and has cracks, it is essential that you consult a professional blacksmith. Painting over so many imperfections is not advisable.
Painting an exterior metal door is a possible mission
Before you buy, make a list of everything you will need. When you go to the paint shop make sure you choose products that can be combined. For example, that the primer is for metal and not for wood.
Always read the labels before starting to work and respect the instructions and times indicated by the manufacturer to the letter. If you have any concerns, you can contact them.
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