When you paint your garage door, you’re making a statement to the whole neighborhood. You’ll elevate the aesthetic of your home and impress anyone who passes by.
You’ll need to pick up the right tools for the job, but it’s easily done in an afternoon.
Below you’ll find all the tools, paint, and the steps required to get your garage painted.
Let’s dive right in.
Tools You’ll Need
- 3/8″ roller (or spray gun)
- Paint Brush
- Paint Tray
- Paint Bucket
- Scrub Brush
- Bucket for Cleaning
- Painter’s Tape
- Drop Cloth
- Fine Grit Sandpaper
- Safety Gear
What Paint to Choose
The best paint for a garage door is acrylic latex exterior house paint. If you go with regular paint, you’ll find that it won’t hold up over the years. One coat should do you just fine, but you may require two coats depending on if you’re painting a lighter color over a darker one.
As for color, I recommend going with neutral colors like brown, grey, and beige. You won’t have to clean your garage door as often and dirt and grime won’t be easily seen. If you’re feeling spicy, you can try out brighter colors like yellow or red, but be aware these colors may bring unwanted attention to your home.
I recommend utilizing this color wheel to find perfect complementary colors.
Mind the Temperature
Plan to paint your garage door on a cool day. Your main goal is to avoid painting your garage door in direct sunlight. Pay attention to the weather forecast, avoid rainy and humid days. Otherwise, your paint job may not give you the best results.
How to Paint a Garage Door in 5 Steps
Step 1
Start by putting on a mask and goggles, you’re not going to want to breathe in any garage dust!
Using the scrub brush, go around your garage door and gently scrub the surface. Your goal is to remove any dust or rust that has built up over time. This will allow you to get a perfect, flat coat.
Next, you’ll want to take your fine-grit sandpaper and sand down the spots where the rust has been removed. Make sure these areas are nice and flat.
Step 2
Wash your garage door either by hand or with a garden hose. Use any mild detergent you have to help you get the door as clean as possible. The surface typically has texture so you’re going to want to ensure it’s clean before you give it a nice coat of paint.
Give your garage door around half an hour to dry before moving ahead.
Step 3
Engage manual mode on your garage door to make sure no one accidently opens it.
Open the door fully and then start applying painter’s tape to every surface that you don’t want the paint to get on. If you don’t want to paint the trim, make sure it’s taped off.
Use your drop cloth and lay it both inside and outside of your garage door to make sure you don’t have to clean your driveway and garage later.
When you’re ready to start the first coat, close your garage door manually.
Step 4
Pour your paint (make sure it’s exterior paint) into your paint tray.
Start with your paint brush and cut around the panels around your windows if you have any.
Depending on your preference, you can continue using your paint brush or utilize the roller. I recommend going from top to bottom. Be mindful of how much paint you’re using as you don’t want any excess paint to come dripping down.
If your roller isn’t getting into the nooks and crannies of your garage door panels, feel free to switch back to the brush to get everything painted nicely.
Step 5
After you’ve painted the garage door, all that’s left to do is wait for it to dry.
After a few hours, it’s time to start the second coat. Repeat the steps above and turn your garage door on automatic mode once the job is finished.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to shell out big bucks to get a newly painted garage door. While it can be time-consuming, it’ll be finished in a day. It’s a perfect weekend DIY project! Get your friends and family involved, you’ll be sure to have fun with it.
One final tip is to make sure you’re patient. When you paint the garage door, ensure that you don’t use too much paint otherwise you’ll have dripping issues. Once you’re done, you’ll have one of the best garage doors in the neighborhood.
Next up on your list is painting the inside of your garage or picking out the best paint for your garage floor.
Photo Credit: Flickr.com
