What Finish to Use When Painting Metal Garage Doors

Exterior Paint

• Use acrylic paint, also known as latex paint, to paint your garage door. Latex paint sticks well to the surface and dries quickly. Paints come in flat, eggshell, semigloss and high gloss finishes. Technically any sheen can be used, but its more common to use a flat or low-sheen finish, such as eggshell. Make sure that you purchase exterior paint because it will weather and fade less than common interior formulas.

Dark Colors

• Painting an exterior garage door with dark colors can add a new look to the facade of your home. Darker colors, however, will require more frequent repainting. Dark color paints look nice initially but fade faster from the sun. Lighter colors may collect more dirt, but with frequent cleanings the color stays in tact better. A metal garage door in lighter colors can go as long as 8 years before needing repainting.

Clean

• The garage should be properly prepped before attempting to paint the surface. Dirt, grime and dust will show through a layer of paint, and the paint will have a tough time adhering to the garage door. Clean the door with an all-purpose cleaner and water; scrub harder to remove grease marks and dirt stains. Don't sand the baked on prefinished coat of paint that the garage door came with. It is essential in protecting the door from rust and is there for a reason.

Primer

• Latex paint will not adhere to the garage door properly without the door being primed. Use a latex bonding primer to create a suitable base for the finishing coat. Avoid painting the portion of the garage door that goes behind the weatherstripping because the door will stick and the paint will peel. Tape the weather stripping while painting. Use a roller to paint most of the surface. Only use a brush to cut in tight-to-reach places.