Exterior Painting Garage Door
How to Paint a Garage Door
With the right tools, paint and prep work, you can turn your average garage door into the star of the neighborhood.Repainting your worn garage door is a great way to enhance your home’s curb appeal. With the right tools, paint and a few expert tips, your garage door makeover can be as easy as painting wall inside your home.
#1: Select the Right Paintbrushes & Paint
- For a wood or metal garage door, consider a 100% acrylic, like Benjamin Moore’s Aura Exterior or Regal Select Exterior Hign Build
- Use synthetic-bristle paintbrushes for acrylic paint: a 3-inch flat sash brush for flat surfaces, a 2- or 2.5-inch angled sash brush to cut in around edges and windowpanes.
- Rollers always work well for large, flat surfaces.
#2: Prep Your Garage Door
Before applying any primer or paint, make sure your garage door surface is free of loose, chipping paint, and properly dulled from any previous glossy finish.
- Disconnect the garage door opener so you can manually move it up and down as you work, and to avoid the door accidentally moving when you don’t want it to.
- Use a sponge to scrub the door with an all-purpose cleaner. If needed, pressure wash carefully to remove any loose or peeling paint. For mildew, wash with a combination of ¼-cup TSP (a popular cleaning agent), ¼-cup bleach, and 1-gallon of warm water. Be sure to rinse thoroughly after using TSP and bleach.
- Spread a drop cloth under the door to protect the garage floor and driveway.
- Sand rough edges of paint that didn’t wash off. Use 80- to 220-grit, depending on the severity of the edges. Sand until smooth. Be sure not to let sandpaper touch windowpanes, as it will scratch the glass.
- For metal doors, loosen rust with a wire brush and spot prime just those areas with a rust-inhibitive primer like ULTRA SPEC or . ACRYLIC METAL PRIMER Consult your Benjamin Moore retailer or other professional if there is any significant damage.
- Tape off windowpanes, trim and hardware.
#3: Apply the Primer and Paint
Once your garage door is prepped, it’s time to apply a primer.
- Use a high-quality acrylic exterior primer like or FRESH START PRIMER
- When applying both the primer and paint, start with the top panel and work your way down. Use a brush to cut in around the trim and the edges of the door and fill in any recesses in the panels. Then coat flat surfaces.
- Follow recommended dry times between coats of primer and paint.
- Most projects require one coat of primer and two coats of paint for best results. If your garage door is already painted and in sound condition—and the color change is not drastic—a primer may not be necessary.
Unsure of how many gallons of paint to buy? Use the Benjamin Moore