Aluminum doors are sturdy, popular, and commonly used for exterior doors such as a wide garage door. So, you might be wondering how to paint your aluminum doors. They are just as vulnerable to fading and natural wear and tear as conventional wooden doors. But they do require a slightly different painting process.
Since metal doors are often used outside, they are subjected to many weather conditions. This is why oil-based paints, designed for exterior use, are typically preferred to latex paints when you work on aluminum doors.
You should only tap gently, and be careful of damaging the door or nearby molding. As soon as the hinge pins are loose enough, manually pull them out with your hand.
Metal doors may accumulate grease, oil, dirt, and rust. This is especially common for garage doors, where vehicles likely pass through on a daily basis. But surface debris will create issues for the new paint. The surface will need to be completely cleaned and smooth, or else the primer and paint will not bond well.
It is ideal to sand a metal door before painting it. Sanding the surface will increase the adhesion of the primer and paint. However, you will need to use the correct sandpaper grit. The grit is a measurement of how coarse the sandpaper is, with a higher grit being finer and a lower grit being rougher.
Next, you may need to use painter’s tape in order to cover up areas you do not want to be primed or painted. That will usually include trim or molding.
Lightly apply the paint across your door with a paint roller, using long strokes. Wait for the first coat to dry, and then add a second layer. This will create a smoother, richer look. The drying time between coats will always vary, depending on the brand of paint and even the weather.