Metal Door Painting: Start to Finish

Painting a metal door has its own quirks and problems, but can be done successfully by any do-it-yourselfer who is armed with some knowledge and determination.

As with most projects, the secret to a successful paint job on a metal door is the preparation done before the painting begins. If you prepare well, you can have a finish that lasts for years.

Remove Hardware
With a new door, this step is likely finished; with a previously hung door, remove all locks and knobs. Kickplates and door knockers should also be removed. If you have the door off the frame, then remove the hinges as well.

If weather stripping can be easily removed, then remove it. Otherwise it will need to be taped for protection.

Remove Window Glazing
There may be areas of window glazing that has pushed out onto the window or frame on a door or the sidelights that may accompany a door. If this is the case, use a straight, single blade razor blade to score and then remove this material.

Glazing is usually a caulk-like compound, and can leave a residue even when it is removed. Eliminate any residue with a solvent like denatured alcohol or mineral spirits.

Clean and Tape
A metal door needs to be clean in order to hold a coat of paint. A simple mild soap and water works well for most doors, or you can use denatured alcohol and a soft cloth. This works well for most doors.

Now tape off any areas that you don’t want to paint, particularly windows and weather stripping, if you were unable to remove it. Consider using newspaper or brown paper along with tape to cover larger window areas.

If you decide on a spray painting method, you will need to tape or cover the entire window, but if you use another method, you may only need to cover the edges.

Dents and Priming
Dents or scratches in a metal door can be fixed using Bondo or similar auto body repair material.

After using the Bondo and allowing it to cure, sand the area with an orbital sander so it is flush. This method can also be used on the door’s wooden frame to fill in defects.

Use a good primer on the bare spots. If a door is new, then the factory most likely applied primer, but if not, there may be a need to prime bare spots. You may also need to apply a primer if you are using a different type of paint than was used before on a previously painted door.

Painting Methods
There are three methods you can use for painting metal doors.

The first is a simple brush. While this is the least expensive method and likely the most popular, it is not the most effective. Each brush mark shows up quickly on the door’s smooth surface. Using a professional quality paintbrush will help.

The second method is using a roller. This is easy, requires little expenditure, and little training. With a short nap roller cover, and the right size of roller (use a 4” roller if there are many decorative indents or rails on your door) it is possible to get a very smooth finish by rolling.

The last method produces the best results on metal doors. Spraying gives a finish that is truly smooth. However, using a paint sprayer is expensive, and requires a bit of know-how to use effectively.