A lot of homeowners are under theimpression that painting an exterior metal door is just the same aspainting any type of door. So they paint it as normal until later onwhen they see unattractive brush marks. While this can work for somehomeowners if they accept it as part of its style, most homeownerswould hate looking at it so they’ll spend more time, effort andmoney to correct it.
So I was all set to start painting my front door, I've got the primer on (with a brush), and it occurred to me that maybe I should be using a roller. The door is just a wooden slab (I live in a big condo building). I've done some googling and it seems that the majority says to use a roller, but it seems to me it would just look better with a brush. If your door is paneled, start with the panels. Using semigloss exterior paint and a 2-inch angled sash brush with synthetic bristles, paint around the edges of the panels. Switch to a mini-roller. The best way to paint your door is by using both a paintbrush and a foam roller. You should begin by brushing a light coat of paint on the door. Because the brush can leave drips or runs, it is best to do this first, before the rest of the door is painted. If you have a paneled door, brush the indented parts of. How to Paint a Front Door (Without Brush Marks) - Renee Romeowww.reneeromeo.com @reneeromeodiy #diylikaproGet the suppliy list on my website: www.reneeromeo.
A metal front door is supposed to be sleek and smooth. This is why brush marks will defeat the purpose of having this type of front door. Brush marks may look nice on a wooden one, but they will trigger your obsessive-compulsive personality if you see them on a metal door.
Make sure to also read our articles on removing plaster and how to repair hairline cracks.
How to Paint a Front Door without Brush Marks
Actually, the easiest way to ensurethis is to hire a professional. Professional painters, especially theexperienced ones, have been doing this for a long time already thatthey know what to do from the preparation to the finishing. This way,you can just sit back as you watch them do it for you. Once done, youcan enjoy your metal front door that’s newly-painted minus thebrush marks.
Best Paint For Metal Front Door
But since you’re reading thisarticle, you want to learn how to paint a front door without brushmarks. We have this covered. Here’s how to do it.
- Remove the door.
Swing it open andlook for the hinges that connect it to the frame. Locate the hingepin and position a screwdriver against it. Hammer the screwdriverlightly in order to loosen the hinge until it’s removed. Do thesame for the other hinges. Most doors will have 2 or 3 of them.
Pull the door awayfrom the frame. Ask for help if necessary. Place it down slowly andsafely on a flat surface.
This is also whenyou remove all the attached hardware to avoid getting paint on them.Basically, remove whatever you don’t want to be painted. Forexample, you’d want your door knocker to remain as shiny stainlesssteel, right?
Use a screwdriverfor this task. Don’t use power tools. This calls for more delicatetools.
NOTE: This stepshouldn’t be necessary especially if you live in an area where it’scold because the cold weather will make it longer for the paint todry. No matter how safe you think your neighborhood is, you wouldn’twant an open invitation for would-be robbers. A missing front door isan open invitation for criminals.
- Prepare the area for painting.
The surface has tobe clean and free from grease. This is why it’s recommended thatyou clean the surface using a degreasing cleaner. You have to knowthat grease will make it harder for the paint to adhere to thesurface properly and completely.
If the door is nottoo greasy or if it’s a new one, a spray cleaner will work justfine. Just make sure to check the label to make sure that it can workon whatever surface your door has.
Follow themanufacturer’s instructions on how to use the cleaner. Make surethat you protect yourself accordingly using goggles, gloves and thelikes. Once you’re done, use a dry and clean cloth to dry thesurface.
Next, make sure totape the parts that you don’t want to be painted on. At this pointsince you’ve already removed the fixtures, it’s just a matter oftaping the sides and the edges. If the design calls for some surfaceto remain unpainted, then tape those surfaces as well. Of course ifthere are fixtures that you can’t remove like windows, tape them aswell.
Take this time to inspect the door properly to see if there are dents that you’d like repaired. Sand down the dents using an 80-grit sandpaper before using a patching compound to cover the dents. Allow to dry for at least 40 minutes before leveling them using a 150-grit sandpaper. Do so until the dents are not that obvious anymore.
Once you’re done,it’s time to sand the entire door using a 400-grint sandpaper. Thegoal here is to roughen up the surface a bit, just enough for theprimer and the paint to stick. Don’t put too much elbow grease onthis task or else, you may end up damaging the door.
There should be alot of dust and you need to remove them. Wipe the door using a dampand clean cloth, making sure that it’s totally dust-free onceyou’re done. If there’s a lot of dust, vacuum it first beforewiping it down.
- Prime the door.
The first thingthat you have to know is that by itself, paint wouldn’t stick wellto metal. They’re not designed to bond well together. This is whythe use of the right primer is important. In this case, the primerwill act as some sort of double-sided tape. The metal door will stickto it and it will stick to the paint.
Make sure that theprimer is designed to be used for metal doors. Make sure that it’salso compatible with the paint that you’ll be using. If unsure,make sure to ask the paint store before buying.
Using a small paintroller, coat the entire door. Leave it to dry for 1 to 3 hoursdepending on the primer and the weather conditions. Apply a secondcoating once dry. Make sure that it’s really dry before advancing.
Since you’reprobably painting both sides, you should prime one side at a time.Once you’re done with the 2 coats, you can work on the other side.
NOTE: There arepaints that don’t require a primer. If you happen to find one inyour area, you can skip this part and just follow the manufacturer’sinstructions on how to apply it.
- Apply the paint.
This is the crucialstep if you want to avoid brush marks. It’s this simple. If youdon’t want the appearance of brush marks, don’t use a brush! Thebest way to apply the paint is with the use of a professionalsprayer. This is the one used by professional and experiencedcontractors. This ensures uniformity.
As an alternative,you can also use a foam roller. Use a smaller roller like a 3-inchone. Resist the temptation to use a bigger one so you can cover moreareas per roll. A smaller roller allows you to work around edges andlines. You can use a bigger roller if you have a flat door.
You should also usea roller cover if you’re using a foam roller. Don’t use somethingwith more than a 3/8 inch nap or run the risk of poor texture.
Do note that theglossier the paint is, the more important it is to use a sprayer.
It’s alsoimportant that you use paint that’s designed for exterior use. Ifthe can says semi-gloss or exterior satin, then it can be used forthe exterior metal door.
Apply the firstcoat using the sprayer or foam roller. Unfortunately, there’s agood chance that you still need to use a brush. This is for hard toreach areas like the grooves. As a consolation, it’s pretty hard tonotice the brush marks in these areas.
Leave it to dry forat least 6 hours. Sometimes, it may take up to 18 hours for thesurface to dry. Don’t apply a second coating or work on the otherside before it’s completely dry.
While applying,make sure that you fix any uneven areas or drip marks. Do this beforeit dries.
Once the firstcoating is done and dry, it’s recommended that you apply a secondcoating. Additional coating will improve its resistance andappearance. Apply additional coatings until you’re fully-satisfiedwith the appearance.
Once you’re done,you can work on the other side.
You may be temptedto use a heat gun or a hair dryer to speed up the drying process.Don’t do this. This will lead to uneven parts.
What Type Of Paint For Front Door
The best time toapply the paint is early in the morning or in the evening. Thisprevents the paint from drying too fast before you get the chance toensure evenness. If it dries up before you’re finished, you’dhave to repaint.
- Re-attach the door.
Remove the tapesand attach the fixtures that you removed. Re-attach the door to theframe. If there’s weather-stripping, remove it after re-attachingthe door to give it enough space to dry completely without beingpressed against the stripping. You can re-install it after a coupleof days.
Spray Paint Steel Door
In addition to preventing brush marks.Spray painting steel door leads to more even results. It’s alsoeasier to apply paint using a spray applicator.
Can I Use Latex Paint on a Metal Door?
Yes! Actually, latex is the most commontype used for a metal door. It’s used even by professionals. Ithelps that it’s readily-available.
You do have to choose the right typebecause there are paints that are designed for interior use. In thiscase, you have to buy one that’s designed for exterior application.This type has additives that help against changing weatherconditions.
What is the Best Kind of Paint to Use on ExteriorMetal Doors?
You can check out brands likeRustOleum. Check out their oil-based paints. Choose one that has asemigloss finish. This is very important since this is an exteriorapplication. Semigloss paints will make it easier to clean the doors.
Do Primed Steel Doors Need to be Painted?
This is a common question becauseprimed steel doors may look good even without being painted. However,it’s important to note that a primer’s main job is to help thepaint adhere to the surface. The primer doesn’t have the protectivequalities that exterior paint has. Simply put, it can’t helpprotect your door against the weather which is very importantespecially for an exterior door.
How do I Remove Paint from a Metal Door?
Do you need to remove paint from ametal door? Yes. Even if you’re using latex paint, you can’tapply paint on a layer of paint. It has to be bare metal.
One important thing that you have to worry about is whether you’re about to remove lead paint or not, the same way that you may have to consider the presence of lead in old radiators. Removing it on your own is very hazardous. We recommend buying test kits to check if it’s safe to remove or not.
Here’s how to remove it:
- Using a paint brush, apply paint thinner on the painted surfaces. Use a pressure washer set to 80 psi and operate via a sweeping motion. Stop every now and then to check how you’re progressing. This task will be very easy if the paint was applied using a spray applicator.
- Heat the surface using a heat gun. This will lead to the paint curling up, making it easier to remove. Once it has curled up, you can use a scraper to scrape it away.
- Apply paint thinner again. Scrub the remaining paint using sand paper or a wire brush.
- Using a soft-bristled brush, scrub the remaining paint using a nail polish remover with acetone.
- Rinse with water.
Make sure that you’re careful! Consider buying bulk lead paint test kits if needed or have someone come out with a portable XRF device to check the door for lead paint.
How to Paint a Primed Steel Door
We’ve already discussed how to painta primed steel door. At this point, some of you may still bewondering what primer to use. It’s best to use an oil-based one orrust-resistant latex.
After choosing, it’s just a matter of following the manufacturer’s instructions.
The hidden dangers in your home
Did you know that there is a significant chance that there are certain things in your home that will have various things in them that will potentially be dangerous to you?
If you have kids living at your place, you would especially want to make sure that it doesn’t contain any dangers that you don’t know about, right?
Well, chances are that even if you are taking your precautions, there are still going to be things you probably haven’t thought about, or there may have been product recalls that you weren’t aware of because, perhaps the specific product had a higher lead content level in it than what is permitted.
Perhaps you weren’t aware of the procedure for properly removing plaster that was installed back in the day when they would put all sorts of nasty things in the walls, and when you decided on removing the plaster, all of that dust suddenly ended up going straight into your lungs as a consequence.
There is a reason why people are as focused on making sure that they are having a safe pregnancy and avoiding things like alcohol, but additionally making sure that you aren’t being exposed to potentially harmful VOCs and other elements that affect the air quality.
Even if you are renting the place that you are living at and you have to deal with a landlord, you still have an interest in actually making sure that things are done properly and hairline cracks are dealt with if they cause any sort of issues and lead paint is encapsulated or removed. For instance, you won’t simply be able to use any sort of paint stripper if you have found that there are issues with the paint that is in the home that you are in, nor will you simply want that all that potentially dangerous dust is unleashed upon you and your family, why there are a bunch of measures that will need to be taken when dangerous paint is discovered.
While the rest of this article may be wandering a little bit off the topic of painting your exterior metal door, it is important that you know about some of the various dangers in your home, especially since you may have bought this metal front door at a time when regulations were less strict than they are today.
For instance, while you are taking every single measure that you possibly can to make sure that your newborn baby is safe and is able to sleep safely, did you know that it is estimated that there are more than 20 million cribs in the United States that are dangerous for one reason or another? Although they may not all have increased risk of suffocation, there are a bunch of other concerns that may be the case too. Did you know that there were more than 11 million units that were recalled between 2009 and 2011 related to early childhood life because these units posed some sort of threat to your child? That includes cribs and other bed items that were found to be dangerous for your kid, items that should honestly just be thrown in the dumpster to make sure that it doesn’t end up hurting anyone.
How would you feel if you found out that you were accidentally exposing your kid to a range of unwanted things, like mattresses that contain all sorts of harmful chemicals that you may not even be able to smell?
The worrying thing is that there are as many product recalls as there are, despite the fact that serious measures have been taken to ensure the manufacturing standards and make sure that these products do not in fact pose any risk to you or your family. For one, if you have been following allowing on this blog, you will know that there was serious legislation that was initiated in both 1977 and 1992, first surrounding the use of lead paint in homes and subsequently following the use of consumer products, the legislation which followed in 1992. Despite of that, you can see that there are a bunch of products that have been recalled because of the amount of lead content in them – just check out this page on the CPSC’s website, where we have specifically tailored the search to include lead paint violators. You will additionally find that a lot of these products are sold on major retail sites like Amazon and Hasbro. If you are now repainting a metal door in your home, there is a very big chance that you are doing so because it’s old, and when that is the case, the risk that it contains lead goes up exponentially, why we are encouraging you to make sure that you are doing so in a safe manner, especially when you have kids in the house!
Besides the risk of lead paint, especially in homes that have old metal doors, or older homes in general, there are various things that may be a cause for concern when it comes to the well-being of your loved ones.
One of those various things goes hand in hand with deteriorating lead paint as they are all reasons why you should be concerned about the air quality in your home.
If you do have the habit of smoking, you aren’t unfamiliar with the fact that these have a lot of pollutants in them, and it isn’t our place to tell you whether or not you should be engaging in this behavior. However, if you care about protecting those you love from inhaling this damaging smoke as well, you may just want to step outside as you are indulging in your guilty pleasure. With 4,000 various compounds in cigarettes, you are bound to find some of them that are truly damaging, especially to growing people. In fact, more than 40 of these are carcinogens, and while your exposure may be bigger than the exposure of someone who is inhaling it as second hand smoke, they are at least compounds that you will want to get out of the house to improve the safety and air quality for people residing in there.
Some of the other things that you should be concerned about when it comes to ensuring the best air quality in your home, includes making sure that you air it out properly and that you address any mold concerns that you may have. The sooner you address mold concerns, the more easily this can also be done. Properly airing out a bathroom after a long shower is an easy thing to include, even if you are a little bit stressed in the morning.
Either way, we hope you enjoyed this article on painting your metal doors, as well as other safety measures we encourage in your home!