Painting Metal Overhead Garage Doors

Clean the exterior and interior door surface thoroughly with an all-purpose cleaner to remove dust, dirt and grease. Use a stiff brush or steel wool to scrub caked-on dirt and rinse away the cleaner with water.

Remove loose or peeling paint with a wire brush. If the surface is bubbling or peeling all over, scrub with a powder cleanser and then rinse thoroughly.

Scrape away remaining rust spots gently with a scraper and smooth surface scratches that have not exposed the metal beneath using fine steel wool. Avoid buffing or sanding the door because the paint won’t adhere properly if the surface is too smooth.

Cover handles and trim with painter’s tape and cover the windows with newspaper.

Place a drop cloth or a tarp on your under the door to protect driveway and garage floor. Paint both the interior and exterior with the door closed. Do not try to paint with the door in the overhead position.

Apply primer suitable for metal surfaces with a wide paint brush or roller. Leave this to dry for at least 12 hours. If the metal beneath the original finish is exposed, priming is critical, because Latex paints can hasten rust.

Apply paint using a brush or a roller. For repainting baked-on finishes, Raynor recommends a high-quality acrylic latex exterior paint, and avoiding oil-based or rust-inhibitive paints.

Leave the first coat of paint to dry completely before applying a second coat. Paint both the interior and exterior door surface using exterior paint.