Painting your Garage Door
INSIDE : Learn the best practices for Painting your Garage Door. This budget friendly DIY project will make a huge difference in your overall curb appeal!
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Your garage door is a big part of your home’s exterior and overall curb appeal. Over the years I have shared a few different ways to help improve the look of that big blank garage door.
Below are a few of those ways.
- Install Faux Garage Windows (You will not believe what a huge improvement this made!) - Modern Decorative Garage Door Hardware - Painting your Garage Door - How to pick a Garage Door Color
Garage doors can be so boring and they often take up so much space of your home’s front, so it’s important to keep them looking their best and painting it is a great way to update it’s appearance and also extend it’s lifespan.
My VERY boring garage door below, yikes. Why the previous homeowners thought painting the door the same color as the stucco was a good idea, I’ll never know.
Let’s get into more detail of how I gave my garage door a makeover! Note : This is the second garage door I have painted and BOTH have held up tremendously well.
What do I need to paint a garage door?
- Exterior Paint
- Roller brush + Roller
- Wooster Hand held brush (my favorite brush ever ever)
- Broom
- Old towel
- Painter’s tape
- Sand Paper / Wire Brush
- Hose
How to Paint a Garage Door
Painting a garage door is actually very simple, especially compared to painting an interior room with trim and light fixtures you might need to tape around. Typically your garage door is one flat surface with maybe a window, but sometimes not.
Here are the steps on how to paint a garage door…
Prepare the garage door
Preparing your door for paint is one of the most important steps. Choose a day when the weather is dry and mild and make sure to start by removing any loose or peeling paint, rust or dirt. This will help the paint adhere properly and last for years to come.
You can use a wire brush or sandpaper to do this. I used a sanding block.
Once the surface is sanded, wash it with an all-purpose cleaner and hose off.
My garage door is a plastic vinyl so after the light sanding, I used the hose to rinse off dust and any remaining grime – then wiped it down with an old towel.
Apply a coat of primer
This is not always necessary, but it is recommended if your garage door is made of wood or if you are painting over a dark color (like my red trim). The primer will help the paint to adhere to the surface and prevent it from peeling.
Use a primer that is specifically designed for metal or wood, depending on the type of garage door you have.
Looking for my other outdoor Curb Appeal projects? Look no further! - Give your Curb Appeal a fresh look with paint - Painting your Garage Door - Painting your Mailbox and Address Tiles - How to Easily Repair Minor Wood Rot - Install Faux Garage Door Windows - Decorative Garage Door Hardware - DIY Wooden Sunburst Doormat
Start with the trim first
Just like with any painting project, it is always smart to start painting on the trim first. I painted my red trim with primer.
And once it dried, I painted it my dark blue paint color – Behr Ultra Exterior Paint in Winter Way.
It was amazing just having the trim painted darker, what an improvement it was from the red. Phew.
Apply Paint on Garage Door
Use a handheld paintbrush to paint the edges of your garage door. I painted the top edge and sides, then just slightly openned the garage door so that the bottom trim could easily be reached.
After the edges of the garage door had dried, I used a roller to apply the paint to main space of the garage door.
Start painting at the top and work your way down, overlapping each stroke slightly.
Apply two coats of paint, allowing each coat to dry completely before applying the next.
I used Behr Exterior Paint in Gazebo Gray (option 2) for the garage door and Behr Ultra Exterior Paint in Winter Way for the trim work.
Best paint for Garage Doors
The best paint for a garage door is a high-quality, 100% acrylic latex exterior grade paint with a bonding primer. This type of paint is durable, weather-resistant, and can withstand the elements. It is also easy to apply and clean up.
Looking for the Best Gray Exterior House Paints? Check these out!
My favorite brands for painting garage doors include –
- Behr Marquee Exterior Paint – This is a premium paint that is designed to last for years. It is resistant to fading, mildew, and peeling.
- Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint – This paint is another premium paint that is known for its durability and longevity. It is also available in a wide variety of colors.
- Valspar Duracraft Exterior Paint – It is a good mid-range option that is still durable and weather-resistant. It is also available in a variety of colors.
- Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch 2X Ultra Cover – This is a high-quality, affordable spray paint that is easy to apply and dries quickly for smaller touchup areas. It is also resistant to fading, peeling, and cracking.
How much does it cost to paint a Garage Door?
The cost of painting a garage door depends on a number of factors, including the size of the door and the type of paint used.
Average cost to paint a garage door:
- $1 to $4 per square foot
- Single-car garage door: $100 to $230
- Two-car garage door: $120 to $500
- Three-car garage door: $170 to $680
Factors that affect the cost:
- Size of the door: The larger the door, the more paint you will need and the more time it will take to paint, so the higher the cost.
- Type of paint: A higher-quality paint will cost more than a lower-quality paint.
How to paint a garage door
Learn the best practices for Painting your Garage Door. This budget friendly DIY project will make a huge difference in your overall curb appeal!
Materials
- Exterior Paint
- Roller brush + Roller
- Wooster Hand held brush (my favorite brush ever ever)
- Broom
- Old towel
- Painter’s tape
- Sand Paper / Wire Brush
- Hose
Instructions
PREPARE THE GARAGE DOOR
- Preparing your door for paint is one of the most important steps. Choose a day when the weather is dry and mild and make sure to start by removing any loose or peeling paint, rust or dirt. This will help the paint adhere properly and last for years to come.
- You can use a wire brush or sandpaper to do this. I used a sanding block.
- Once the surface is sanded, wash it with an all-purpose cleaner and hose off.
- My garage door is a plastic vinyl so after the light sanding, I used the hose to rinse off dust and any remaining grime – then wiped it down with an old towel.
APPLY A COAT OF PRIMER
- This is not always necessary, but it is recommended if your garage door is made of wood or if you are painting over a dark color (like my red trim). The primer will help the paint to adhere to the surface and prevent it from peeling.
- Use a primer that is specifically designed for metal or wood, depending on the type of garage door you have.
START WITH THE TRIM FIRST
- Just like with any painting project, it is always smart to start painting on the trim first. I painted my red trim with primer.
- And once it dried, I painted it my dark blue paint color – Behr Ultra Exterior Paint in Winter Way.
- It was amazing just having the trim painted darker, what an improvement it was from the red. Phew.
APPLY PAINT ON GARAGE DOOR
- Use a handheld paintbrush to paint the edges of your garage door. I painted the top edge and sides, then just slightly openned the garage door so that the bottom trim could easily be reached.
- After the edges of the garage door had dried, I used a roller to apply the paint to main space of the garage door.
- Start painting at the top and work your way down, overlapping each stroke slightly.
- Apply two coats of paint, allowing each coat to dry completely before applying the next.
- I used Behr Exterior Paint in Gazebo Gray (option 2) for the garage door and Behr Ultra Exterior Paint in Winter Way for the trim work.
Garage Door Painting Best Practices
Here are some additional tips for painting a garage door:
- Choose a paint that is weather-resistant and will protect your garage door from the elements.
- Protect the surrounding area with drop cloths or tarps.
- Let the paint dry completely before using the garage door.
- If your garage door is made of wood, you may need to use a wood filler to repair any cracks or holes.
- If your garage door is made of metal, you may need to sand it with a finer grit sandpaper to create a smooth surface.
- If you are painting over a dark color, you may need to apply a coat of primer that is specifically designed for painting over dark colors.
With a little planning and effort, you can easily paint your garage door and give it a new look.
