Usually there are two basic concerns when painting your steel overhead doors is concerned. First thing is that you should make sure to use the apposite sort of undercoat and topcoat. These are necessary since you might have adhesion problems, which might lead to flaking and chipping over the time. Again since metal like steel is non-porous and slick, doing it by oneself can be tough and producing a finish with professional look can be tough also. Again painting your overhead steel doors give you the added difficulty of functioning against gravity and that might lead to some splatters and messy drips.
Here are some steps, tips and warnings that you might helpful while working on your steel overhead doors.
Step 1
Begin with spreading plastic drop cloth underneath your steel overhead doors and lay heavy-duty fabric drop cloths over the plastic drop cloth.
Step 2
Now using a metal putty knife or a coarse sand paper scrape away all the loose and peeling paint from your steel doors.
Step 3
With 80- to 120-grit sandpaper remove any of the remaining bits of loose paint. You can also use a power sander to remove bits persistent traces of your old paint.
Step 4
Now with a tack clothe wipe down the steel overhead doors.
Step 5
Any area of the door that you do not wish to paint, remember to cover it using the blue painter’s tape.
Step 6
Remember to apply alkyd metal primer to your steel overhead doors with a 4-inch oil-based paintbrush. At first apply only a thin coat in order to prevent any splattering and dripping and then allow the surface to dry for about two hours.
Step 7
Now clean the brushes with a mineral spirit.
Step 8
With the help of a 4-inch oil-based paintbrush apply polyurethane enamel. Again apply thin coat and never try to cover the door in one single coat.
Step 9
Allow two hours time for the paint to dry, and then apply the additional coats until your door is covered completely.
Tips
- Since an amateur painter over-applies paint in the finishing coats he ends up with brushstrokes. If you apply several thin coats instead of one or two thick coats you can avoid having the brushstrokes. All it needs is patience and the look of your door will be enhanced greatly.
- If you are painting a door that has not been painted before, you will need an etching primer to scrape the steel. This is an important step to promote paint adhesion, and if you skip this chipping and peeling over the time will be inevitable.
Warnings
- The overhead steel doors are ill famed for dripping paint. Make sure that you do not use the plastic drop cloths alone, since it makes the paint to pool up. The same way, the heavy-duty fabric drop cloth will help in soaking the paint.
- Again if you use a stepladder, always follow the safety instructions.
These are some simple steps that will prove quite helpful while painting your overhead steel door.