. If all rust is removed with sanding then this step isn’t needed. The same auto body filler can be used to repair the wood frame. Thank you for your information. Finish Sanding Sanding is a very important step while painting a steel door. When it’s on slick steel, paint doesn’t absorb into the material and “laydown” and you’re going to have a rough looking texture in your paint finish. I cleaned it thoroughly, but didn’t know about sanding it lightly before painting. I want paint my metal storm door with the factory paint. Your email is never published nor shared. I used paint remover and scraped off 98% of the paint. Many door manufactures have removable weather stripping. The Zinnser 123 is a bonding primer. Repairing wood is basically the same as with the steel door. It is not even necessary to mask the glass if you have a good paint scraper, but scrape before it gets fully curried or dry. After your metal front door has been taped up to your liking (this includes: door handles, hinges, frame, and windows) it’s time to paint! Most of the work involved when painting steel doors is with the preparation. I ended up painting it with 3 coats but the paint just peels right off in sheets. 1. Janet Pizaro. Allow the filler to dry completely then begin sanding to level and smooth it with the surrounding area. Do I have to peel the paint and start with a primer alone than paint? Call Homedepot or Lowe's, ask for the paint dept. Some of these problems are excessive peeling of the paint on the door or frame and difficulty to hide brush strokes on a smooth surface. The amount of work at this stage depends on the doors condition and if the door is new or previously painted. 3. After the door is cleaned and dry, mask the glass and any other items not to be painted. If still having problems use a better paint. Remove all loose material, including peeling paint or rotten wood. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "housepainti0e-20"; It is a metal exterior door that gets full afternoon sun. New primed frames need be hand sanded with a medium-fine sanding sponge. After scraping I sanded with a sander to try to get the edges of areas smooth then I primed then painted. It has a large leaded glass insert that is held in with 1 1/2" + wide white molding made of polypropylene. Another factor that will affect the life of the paint is the color and the use of a storm door, follow the manufactures recommendations. Plus the paint around the edge of it is peeling off in a sheet where it was slightly hit. These oils penetrate deep into the deck or siding wood fiber where the wood’s natural oils used to be. 5. The paint is black and all the edges of the scraped areas stand out. At this point; After removing the paint, lightly sand the door with 150-180 grit sandpaper, remove the dust with a damp clean rag then apply a primer (an acrylic universal primer is fine- Zinsser 123 or equivalent), then repaint. It looked like it needed painting, so my neighborhood Home Depot recommended an interior/exterior primer and painting combo semi-gloss. It came primed from the factory. Concentrate on one color at a time. Chatham 3/4 Lite 1-Panel Painted Right-Hand Inswing Steel Prehung Front Door Although the doors finish doesn’t need to be as good as a car, every dent and deep scratch will be highlighted after painting. In order to paint your door you will need to start when warm enough then quit painting early to allow ample time for drying. Best paints will allow you to paint metal front doors for a near factory finish, without worrying about unsightly brush marks. And use the roller on the entire surface, if possible. 1st time we ever painted anything metal, although I’ve painted inside & outside of our houses for years with no problems, ever. Step-by-Step Outdoor Spiral Staircase Construction, Painting Tips & Layout Guidelines for Remodeling your Bathroom, How To Cut And Install Crown Molding And Trim, Install Plywood Underlayment for Vinyl Flooring. Should I have sanded and primed the door? Enter e-mail address to subscribe and get latest updates and info. The door in question is a factory primed door that has never been painted, but it 6 years old. Many homeowners have heard about the problems associated with painting pre-primed steel doors. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "search"; Refinishing an existing door: If you’re hoping to change the look of your current door, evaluate the door’s condition. My front door is steel which has a pre-stain finish on it… can I paint over that if so, do I have to sand first or can I just start with the primer. Finish sand in the same manner as the steel door. Build the repair in layers if over 1/2 inch deep. x 80 in. Factory pre-finishing also eliminates their concerns with on-site painting: jobsite mess, and dirt in the paint, toxic-smelling fumes, disposal of solvents and other painting supplies. Simply insert the knife between the weather stripping and the frame. What should I do this time to make the paint stick. Wash the door with a sponge and a mixture of water and a low-suds detergent such as Spic and Span. Why would you need to use a different paint on the interior side? A bonding or universal primer has better resins to stick to many different surfaces. I appreciate your efforts. Any god metal primer is fine. Add a little water to the paint to help with flow and slow down the drying a bit. As roofs run different pitches, these labor intensive post mounts have to be customized for each roof. Continue filling and sanding until the repair is flush with the surface and not visible after priming. I have always wondered why the paint is different for the outside vs inside other than the obvious holding up under sun/heat, cold/rain, snow etc… I understand why not to use interior on the exterior, but why not use exterior indoors? amzn_assoc_search_bar_position = "top"; The second best way is to use foam rollers because both give your steel door a uniform texture. I tried several ways to apply the paint (brush and mohair roller) but the paint went on unevenly and was very slippery. And should I use a different paint? There’s latex enamel and acrylic enamel, manufactures use these terms interchangeably. First time DIY project.. As long as the original finish isn’t peeling heavy sanding isn’t needed. If the door is off the frame for painting then go ahead paint the top and bottom. New steel doors need to be sanded to roughen the surface without causing deep scratches. I used a paint sprayer with outdoor latex to paint steel and plastic edging around the glass. Thanks! You could just touch-up the damaged areas by hand or remove all loose paint, prime the plastic then repaint. The popular paint-n-primer products on the market are not necessarily the best for all situations, at best they are a compromise. Some layers might react differently with different strippers. If the weather stripping cannot be removed, stapled or secured in place, you can use a drywall knife to act as a shield while brushing the frame and trim. Choose a good primer as the foundation for the finish paint. In lieu of a sprayer, a 4-in. The goal is to not see the sanding marks after painting. What product can I apply to produce a gloss finish? If you’re preparing to paint an old door or a new one with hardware, it’s best to … I removed all of the paint and it is down to the silver metal. This primer can be quite old and hard, helping to cause the slippery nature you experienced. Acrylic paints shouldn’t be applied over oil base paint without priming first. I have some light rusting showing through my paint on my metal door, what would be the best procedure to prep the door? on Aug 29, 2017. amzn_assoc_default_search_phrase = "Paint Sprayer"; 6 answers . applied finish paint, Therma-Tru Steel Doors are shipped only with a factory-applied primer that functions as temporary retardant against rusting and certain other damage under normal temperature and environmental conditions, only until prompt and proper finishing by the Warranty Holder or its Building Agents.) I painted two days ago with a primer/paint and the door is still sticky. Painting a steel security screen door allows you to customize the appearance of the door to match your home and make the door more aesthetically pleasing and less like a cell block. The same paint and color as the outside. It simply pulls out of a grove in the frame. I was originally thinking just primer over the speckled area of rust and paint over that. Copyright 2021 Extreme How To. Ebbjdl. One last thing is use lacquer thinner and steel wool, rub same direction of the wood grain. I have very large areas where paint peeled on our 2 steel exterior doors…formed large bubbles over the winter. Click to see full answer. Insulated steel entry doors are a great life long purchase and if painted correctly can be virtually maintenance free for many years. Zinnser 123 exterior acrylic primer will work well plus it is available everywhere. Rolling is a great alternative to spraying, producing a very satisfying finish. Pay special attention to greasy fingerprints and general grime. If you have an article that you would like to publish, then you may, vibrating orbital sander or a palm sander. Combine the use of Floetrol with a cool surface for best results. But, a light sanding and the use of a primer is always a good idea before painting. Splotchy and streaky. In this segment we'll show you how to give a previously painted steel entry door a fresh new paint job. Now remove the weather stripping. Repairing a Steel Door and Frame Use auto body filler, such as Bondo, for dents and deep scratches. If the weather stripping was left installed use a 6-inch drywall knife to act as a shield to protect the weather stripping. An aerosol primer can be used on the door, otherwise use the same procedure as when painting. This needs to be done on new and previously painted steel doors. The interior portion is the most difficult with the door installed. For more information, contact us at www.doitbest.com The weather stripping can be removed from the door frame so it isn’t damaged during this curing time. A month is usually an appropriate timeframe. Previously painted doors can be sanded to remove or lessen brush marks or paint drips. All paints are effected by temperature and humidity. Another cleaning method is to wipe the steel door and sidelights with a clean rag saturated with denatured alcohol. Would lacquer thinner the a good option for wiping down door before paint or is denatured alcohol the best option? Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Hi, Do we have to take the door off the hinges to paint it? Previously painted doors and frames need to be primed only if the type of finish paint is a different type or if the previous finish is in bad shape. (Sudsy detergents will leave the surface … Now is a good time to sand the frame. amzn_assoc_linkid = "199273484cf220e34596d97167062d18"; Glass panels even come with protective plastic that will help with masking. The drying oils stay at the surface, lock in the conditioning oils and create a dry to […]. on Aug 29, 2017. My house is in the Florida Keys, I have 9 light panel type Steel exterior door that was the original primer white and we painted it a coral color, during the summer the paint on the panel part of the door blistered and now is peeling and the steel is showing thru, we don’t want to replace the door we would just like to re-paint it, should we use the exact process you just described? Helpful. Interior paints tend to dry harder and faster than their exterior counterparts. These apply to the frame and trim as well. Check with your local paint store, they will have what you need. Paint the door in the shade if possible. Will I get a few years out of it? Sam Adams, a full-service contractor, says: "The best way to paint a steel door is with a professional sprayer, not a rattle can. For other application techniques leave is on the hinges. Mix the auto body filler according to the manufactures directions and try to slightly overfill the damaged area. Imagine visiting several big box stores and home and garden shows over a period of weeks to determine the best new front door for your home, comparing panel styles, skin textures, hardware and glass styles. I think this has to be totally redone and is going to be a mess. I have a new steel door with blinds between the glass. Any suggestions? It is basic white. Select a light tan exterior paint that will serve as the door's base coat. If it’s on its last legs, it’s perhaps not as important that you paint it flawlessly. I don’t suppose I could acrylic over the enamel. The paint is Behr Premium stuff from HD. Stir The Paint: It is important to use a good-quality, latex paint that is designed for exterior use, and … Even if the door is steel clad with a wood interior core there is an added benefit over a standard wood door. Brushing around these items is difficult and time consuming. After washing, prime with a good bonding primer then paint as usual. Help! Both the denatured alcohol and lacquer thinner are good options, the lacquer thinner is more reactive and will clean better but will easily bubble painted surfaces. The rusty areas will need some sanding to remove as much rust as possible. Painting: Pre-Primed Metal If you need to paint any pre-primed metal, such as a door, it’s important to clean the surface and apply a coat of paint as soon as possible after purchasing. Put on your dust mask and safety glasses and go over the door lightly with … Unless the door manufacture states this trim isn’t paintable then yes it can and should be painted. We were told that the original primer on it would be fine. I have two three coats of Benjamin Moore Eggshell (dark purple) used from the snap kits in my interior metal door. Jasco Prep & Prime or equivalent can be used. Removal is only needed for spraying, in most cases. If you paint the door with a brush, you get all kinds of brush strokes in the finished product." Often there is some confusion about painting a steel door. The paint plus primer was a very thick paint? Not a problem. It was rusting, so we sanded it down, sprayed on Rust Reformer and painted it with Rustoleum metal enamel paint, sanding between coats. A steel door needs extra special care when it’s painted because the wet paint can easily be manipulated by the tool that’s applying it. We installed a steel entrance door last summer. You might need to try yet another type of paint stripper. Do I paint the very top and bottom of my steel door. I am prepping the interior of my front steel door. Carefully scrape the glazing loose. Good choice weather stripping and the Kilz primer best information on finding, repairing and refinishing furniture combo.! Workable and several thin coats peeling off in a safe place manufactures these... Overfill the damaged area with your fingers to check for ruff edges or deep scratches factory! 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