How to Paint a Metal Storm Door

A metal storm door is not always the most pleasant of fixtures of your home, but that can be rectified by using metal door paint. A metal storm door is purchased for protection against the elements, rather than beauty. You can turn your metal storm door from an eyesore to a winner. Metal door paint is formulated to adhere to the metal storm door.

Step 1 - Metal Storm Door Preparation

Remove the door from its hinges and lay it on top of the drop cloth. Remove the door knob as well as the deadbolt. If you have any other hardware on the door, you should also remove it. It's a good idea to remove the hinges. Use the masking tape to tape off any area of the door where you don't want to get metal paint into. This would include inside the door knob hole as well as the deadbolt. Any paint that gets in these areas could cause the fixtures to not properly fit when you're finished.

Step 2 - Clean the Metal Storm Door

Make sure you will be working in a ventilated area. Inspect the door for rust. If you happen to find some, you can get rid of it by using the wire brush. Remove as much of it as you can, to a degree where it will at least be flat and smooth. Wipe the door down with a rag and then follow it up with a tack cloth to remove the rust filings. If you wish to paint the entire door, repeat on the other side. Mix the oil-free liquid soap in a bucket with hot water. Submerge a rag and clean the door with it. Wipe the door down with a clean rag to dry it.

Step 3 - Painting the Metal Storm Door

Now that the door is cleaned and prepped, you can apply the primer metal paint. Metal is often difficult to paint due to the fact that it's very smooth. Use sandpaper to scuff up the metal storm door where you want to paint. Wipe off the metal filings with a rag followed by a tack cloth. Pour the primer metal paint into a paint tray. Dip the paint roller into the primer and remove excess paint. Roll the paint onto the metal storm door as evenly as possible. Watch out for pools of primer, streaks and other mishaps. Wait for the primer to dry before priming the rest of the door or adding a top coat. Apply the top coat to the metal storm door in the same manner as the primer. Wait for the paint to dry before applying a second coat.