How to Paint Faux Wood Grain on a Steel Door

A steel door offers protection, durability and security, though isn't always the most aesthetically pleasing thing to look at. You typically find steel doors in banks, public bathrooms, government buildings and comparable places. If a steel door is becoming a bit of an eyesore in your home, painting wood grain on it is a simple way to transform it into something more decorative. It's a fairly easy project you can complete over a weekend.

Steel degreasing spray
Soft, lint-free cloths
Painter's tape
Electric sander
100-grit sandpaper for metal
Tack cloth
Oil-based primer for metal
Paint roller pan with liners
Paint roller
Wood grain stencils
Cream, yellow or golden oil-based paint

Instructions

- 1
  Spray the door with a thick coat of metal degreasing spray. Wipe it down with soft cloths. Cover the lock and door handle with painter's tape.
- 2
  Press a piece of 100-grit sandpaper for metal on an electric sander and sand the door evenly. Wipe off the dust from sanding with a tack cloth.
- 3
  Pour an anti-rust oil primer into a paint roller pan. Dip a roller in the paint and cover the door with a light coat of primer. Allow it to dry for five hours. Wash and dry the roller.
- 4
  Use the roller to cover the door with a light coat of oil-based paint in a cream, yellow or golden shade. This is your base color for the wood. Give the paint a full 24 hours to dry. Wash and dry the roller again.
- 5
  Attach wood stencils to the door with painter's tape. Pour your darker brown or reddish brown color into a paint roller pan with a fresh liner. Dip the roller in the paint and cover the stencils with a light coat of this darker color.
- 6
  Peel off the stencils and give the door 24 hours to dry.

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