How To Paint an Exterior Garage Door

How To Paint An Exterior Garage Door

Have you ever noticed how vibrant that garage door is on that cute little house down the street? The thing is, that’s exactly what your neighbors wanted — they used that specific colour to help it stand out! That stand-out garage door is not only aesthetically pleasing, but the paint acts as a shield from Toronto’s ever-changing weather. We’ll go over garage door paint tips that you’ll find useful whether you have an aluminum, vinyl or metal garage door. And we’ll also cover finding the right paint colour for you. So, if you want your garage door to be the one your neighbors covet, keep reading!

Materials That You Will Need:

• Exterior Primer
• Exterior Paint
• Paint Roller/Paint Tray
• Paintbrush
• Rags
• Cleaning Solution
• Painter’s Tape
• Sandpaper
• Drop Cloth/Tarp
• Paint and Primer in One (optional)
• Paint Gun (optional)

1. Pick The Right garage door Paint colour

Some might say don’t match the garage door colour with the front door if you have it painted an accent colour already. Others might say that’s the only way to go! If you are considering picking a bold colour for your garage door, make sure that it doesn’t clash with the rest of your home. If your garage is attached, and your house is classically painted, blending in your garage door with the same colour as the majority of your house would work quite nicely.

However, you may choose to colour match with some bolder details around your property. Some people like to match up their garage door colour with items like the mailbox or shutters. This does work to create a cohesive message and helps to effortlessly blend things together while still exuding personality.

2. Clean & Prep

Prepare the garage door by making sure it’s clean of any dirt and sand off any part of the door that isn’t smooth. If you have a metal garage door it might be a good idea to use an abrasive scouring sponge. Then use a strong cleaning solution and wash off any excess dirt.

Once the garage door is clean, use painters tape and tape off the boundary where you will paint. The painters tape acts as a shield for the areas that you don’t want paint on. Put down a drop cloth or tarp to protect your driveway from spills.

3. Prime

Get your paint tray and roller out and pour some primer into the tray. Use your roller and dip it in the paint, rolling it around so it is evenly covered before you start applying the primer to the garage door. You could use a paint and primer in one if you choose, in which case you would skip this step. If you can’t get to every spot evenly with the roller, use a paintbrush. And then, simply let it dry!

4. Paint your garage door 

After you have let the primer dry, now is time for the fun part! You can get your paint ready in a tray and start painting over the primed garage door with the roller. Again, use a paintbrush for areas that the roller cannot fully cover. For a lighter shade of garage door paint you may need to apply a second coat.

If you are applying a second coat of paint, and you painted the first coat of paint horizontally, paint the second one vertically or vice versa. This works to create a professional look. And then, simply give it enough time to dry. 

5. Finish

Once the paint is almost completely dry, pull off the painters tape. Removing the painters tape just before the paint is dry will help the tape come off smooth. It avoids pulling any paint from the painted surface.

Remove the tarp or drop cloth you put down and tada — you just painted your garage door! Step back and appreciate your new garage door paint colour and all the hard work you just accomplished. 

Hints:

Try not to paint on too warm of a day with lots of sun. When you paint outdoors you need to factor in the weather forecast so you don’t overheat and exhaust yourself. A day that is partially cloudy/overcast would be the ideal day to choose for this project.

With a metal door, some might choose to use a paint gun. It is not necessary but a good alternative to the roller if you are confident with that tool.

Don’t forget to check out our Pinterest page for all sorts of exterior painting inspiration! 

More interesting blogs related to “How To Paint An Exterior Garage Door”

1. How to Prepare Your House for Painting
2. The Best Time of Year to Paint the Exterior of Your House
3. Useful Tips For Painting Metal Exterior Trim
4. How Much Does It Cost to Paint a House Exterior in Canada?

If you’re having trouble picking out the right colour for your garage door or are just unsure of what direction to go in, call 416.494.9095 or email brian@HomePaintersToronto.com for a FREE quote or visit our website https://www.homepainterstoronto.com/