Paint for a steel door
#1
09-15-15, 06:58 AM
Paint for a steel door
I have a steel 6-panel front door I want to re-paint and I don't trust the advice I'm getting from the Big Box "paint pro". I've been to Home Depot and Menards and both recommend using interior/exterior water-based latex wall paint. My door has survived 6 years with my 50-pound dog jumping up at it and not a single mark on the original factory paint. That's the kind of durability I want & I don't think it comes in a can of wall paint.
What should I ask for & where? How should I prep the door?
I'm looking to paint both the inside & outside of the door.
What should I ask for & where? How should I prep the door?
I'm looking to paint both the inside & outside of the door.
#2
09-15-15, 10:12 AM
I don't know what type of paint is used on the factory finished doors and it's probable that any paint you apply won't be as durable 
Most new steel doors come with painting instructions that include a disclaimer if you use oil base paint. The reason behind that is oil base paints dry to a hard film where latex coatings are somewhat flexible, couple that with the fact that the metal is thin and prone to expansion/contraction - oil base coatings are apt to crack and peel. IMO you'd be best off with a waterborne enamel as it dries almost as hard as the oil base but has a lot of the benefits of latex. A latex trim enamel is fine, but not a wall paint.
If you know the manufacture of the door it wouldn't hurt to e-mail them and ask for painting instructions.
Most new steel doors come with painting instructions that include a disclaimer if you use oil base paint. The reason behind that is oil base paints dry to a hard film where latex coatings are somewhat flexible, couple that with the fact that the metal is thin and prone to expansion/contraction - oil base coatings are apt to crack and peel. IMO you'd be best off with a waterborne enamel as it dries almost as hard as the oil base but has a lot of the benefits of latex. A latex trim enamel is fine, but not a wall paint.
If you know the manufacture of the door it wouldn't hurt to e-mail them and ask for painting instructions.
#3
09-15-15, 10:26 AM
Group Moderator
Tangent: I agree with your assessment; typically one will find better equipment, supplies and advice in a paint store than in a paint department.
#4
09-15-15, 12:52 PM
Member
Here is the stuff I use for commercial metal doors and handrails at one of my accounts. It dries super hard (best bond strength after 30 days). Looks like you can special order it through big orange, but I get it through a Glidden Professional outlet. Devflex 4216, it's good stuff.
Devflex HP 1-gal. Semigloss High-Performance Waterborne Enamel-4216-9200L 01 - The Home Depot
Devflex HP 1-gal. Semigloss High-Performance Waterborne Enamel-4216-9200L 01 - The Home Depot
#5
09-16-15, 06:35 AM
I might try that Devflex. Would the store--any store--work with me if I bought a gallon & transferred to quarts to be tinted? I have 2 doors to paint--3 sides--all different colors.
#6
09-16-15, 09:39 AM
I've had a paint store that I dealt with daily tint a competitor's paint for me before but I'm not sure if they would normally do something like that ..... and I don't think I've had that done more than twice over a 40 yr period. If you do get them to tint it for you there is no guarantee that the result will match their formula with their paint. I've had paint stores match competitors colors before but the tint formula was never exactly the same as the other store.
#7
09-16-15, 12:49 PM
Member
See if you can find a glidden professional store near you, I found on in Michigan but not sure if it is near you. Glidden Pro Paint For Commercial Painters & Contractors
They most likely cold get it by the quart and have the formulas and or color match system for that particular paints base color.
They most likely cold get it by the quart and have the formulas and or color match system for that particular paints base color.
