Every garage owner knows the importance of repainting the garage doors once every few years. Whether it is to maintain the façade and integrity or to save the wooden surface from exposure to moisture and containments, painting a garage door is a task that can be attempted by yourself, given that you have the right tools. Alternatively, if you don’t want to get your hands dirty, you can employ the services of a painting contractor to take care of the task for you.
If you are looking to paint your custom wood garage door, whether, by yourself or by employing a contractor, there are a few things that you should keep in mind to ensure the longevity of your garage door as well as its paint job.
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Preparing The Garage Door For A Fresh Coat Of Paint:
Set up your canvas by cleaning and prepping the wooden surface of your garage door before applying paint to it. This is a very crucial step that ensures a neat and even application of paint to guarantee the best finish possible.
Start by sanding off the entire surface of your wooden garage door with fine-grit sandpaper. Make sure to focus on cautiously sanding out any scratch marks that may have resulted during transportation or door handling. Once you have sanded the garage door to a smoother state, clean dust, oil, or other residues from the surface before beginning the priming process.
Priming:
Priming is yet another important step that ensures that the subsequent layers of paint do not bleed into each other while also preventing the development of rust on your wooden garage door.
To start the priming process, select a primer suitable for the specific wood of your garage door. Choosing the right primer is the key to priming your door correctly. If you use a primer that isn’t suitable for your wooden garage door, the coat of paint you are intending to apply will not adhere properly to the wooden surface and may cause damage to the wood as well.
When priming, make sure to apply the primer evenly to all exterior as well as interior surfaces and edges of your garage door. Remember, the correct application of primer is what you need if you want your paint job to give your custom wood garage door an exceptional finish.
Painting:
The most vital stage of the painting process is applying the paint to your Custom Wood Garage Door which must be attempted with utmost care. Start by choosing the right shade of color and type of paint to give your wooden garage door the look that you desire. Select a good-quality exterior grade Acrylic Latex Paint and read the paint and primer manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
Avoid darker shades while painting your garage door because they allow excessive heat absorption which causes the wood to bow and crack, thus weakening the integrity of the door. Paint coatings like Oil paints, Wood Shake or Wood Shingle paints, Alkyd paints, as well as Vinyl-based paints, are NOT recommended to be used on a wooden garage door.
When painting, apply at least 2 coats of paint or as per the manufacturer’s label. Be sure to add a layer of primer in between the coats of paint to ensure proper application. Painting a garage door can be a lengthy process and you’ll have to allow plenty of wait times in between each layer to let them dry up completely before proceeding on to the next. For further queries, reach out to your paint supplier to request their help in achieving the look you want for your custom wood garage door.
Finishing with Stains or Clear Coats:
Refinishing a garage door requires special steps if you are using stain instead of paint. Before you begin, make sure that your selected stain is compatible with the specific wood of your garage door.
- Start by staining all exterior and interior surfaces of your garage door.
- Once the stain has dried properly, add a paintable clear caulk around the edges of all trim boards.
- Proceed with the application of Exterior Alkyd type varnish to each exterior section of the door and allow it to dry up completely. It’s recommended not to apply varnish on the interior sections to allow the door to breathe in case any moisture gets accumulated inside the door.
- Use 320 grit sandpaper to sand the varnished surfaces and edges and brush off all dust from your wooden garage door.
- Finally, add a second coat of stain and leave your wooden garage door to dry up completely. Your freshly-painted Custom Wood Garage Door is now ready to hang.
Note: if you are using a clear coat instead of a stain, add a third layer of varnish before putting up your garage door.
Bottom Line:
Repainting your Custom Wood Garage Door can help you achieve the trendy look if you follow all instructions properly. Just be sure to consult your paint manufacturer for directions and precautions prior to painting. Following the manufacturer’s instructions will ensure the retention of your garage door’s newly painted look for a longer time. Also, if you are looking for the Latest Garage Door Trends For Your House, be sure to check out our guide.
Author Bio: Ran Kroynish is an experienced handyman who’s been working for Elite Garage Door & Gate Repair for 10 years. When he’s not fixing garage doors, he likes to share his repair ideas and knowledge with others.
Tags: Garage Door
