how to paint a primed exterior steel door

See more ideas about steel doors, entry doors, doors. ", "Gave me suggestions and will make it easier to accomplish the job. ", "Explained every step very well, I feel I can do it.". Yes. Do I need to prime? Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. The doors are constructed from steel, fiberglass, vinyl and solid wood. Since your door will be exposed to rain, sun, wind and other elements, you'll need flexible and mold-resistant exterior paint. Painting a Mastercraft door is a straightforward task and one you can handle over a weekend. This article has been viewed 579,770 times. Match My Color; Room Visualizer; Paint Calculator. Steel Exterior Doors are used on many homes for Fire protection on doorways connected to a built in garage and also exit doors. When painting a steel front door, you will want to use an exterior paint and primer in one. Approved. A steel door needs extra special care when it’s painted because the wet paint can easily be manipulated by the tool that’s applying it. Step Six: Fixing Cracks. This article received 13 testimonials and 93% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This is a common question because primed steel doors may look good even without being painted. You can find the basic cleaning and painting tools that you'll need for the job at a local hardware store. Buy Paint. If you paint the door with a brush, you get all kinds of brush strokes in the finished product.". Get free shipping on qualified Primed, Exterior Prehung Steel Doors or Buy Online Pick Up in Store today in the Doors & Windows Department. Be certain the label states the pail contains exterior paint, not interior paint. Paint does not like to stick to dirt or grease! Sand the door until the dent is no longer obvious or not easily visible. If your door is paneled, start with the panels. Painting a door is similar whether the door is hung indoors or out. There are 20 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Sanding the door is an option. Or, you can take a putty knife and scrape off any loose paint. How soon after installation do I have to paint over the factory primer on an exterior steel door? Do I just sand it or does it need to be primed? You don’t need to sand the whole surface of the door thoroughly, only enough to give the primer something to stick to. Steel doors become hot in sunlight which in turn will compromise the quality of the paint bond. A paint with a primer mixed in has excelled adhesion and it will stick to your steel door wonderfully. References Open your door as wide as possible to reveal the hinges holding it to the doorframe. For one primed exterior door, you'll need at least one quart of paint. "For steel doors, we recommend 100-percent acrylic latex exterior paint so it can expand and contract with the extreme heat that metal doors will retain." Seal your steel if you want to avoid rust. If you’re unhappy with the look of the second coat of paint once it is dry, you can always add another one. So if you’re painting a door you can’t live without, like a bathroom or exterior door, start first thing in the morning so it can be back in service by day’s end. Sep 1, 2019 - Shop masonite 30-in x 80-in right-hand outswing primed steel prehung entry door with insulating core at Lowes.com Add beauty and quality to your entryway with this four-panel, half-moon lite door from Mastercraft's Embossed Collection. Give the door a light touch every hour until you are certain the door is dry. Apply both coats of primer to the door and let fully dry before turning over to prime the other side. To determine ideal wood shades, examine an image or an actual piece of your favorite type of wood. Dark colors fade and need repainting more frequently. This will give the paint much longer to dry fully before the edges are pressed tightly against the stripping. Careful attention to cleaning the surface well to remove oils, dirt, and other things that interfere with the bonding process will eliminate this problem. x 80 in. If the door is to be finished while it is hanging remove the door and finish the top and bottom edges then rehang the door. Wipe down the door and trim well before painting. And let the door dry for at least 4 to 6 hours before recoating. Painting vinyl is an inexpensive option, particularly when compared to buying tinted panels to fit over the door's surface. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Choose exterior paints for an exterior surface and interior paints for a project area that faces the inside of the home. He was very, "I feel that I can do this myself and save money by not buying a new door and getting the exact color that I want. The Embossed Collection features a wide variety of door styles, and this model's energy-saving core stands up to the most extreme temperatures. Another possible cause is applying water based paint over an existing oil based paint. It’s an additive that helps stop streaks and roller/brush marks. To learn how to disassemble a steel door before painting it, keep reading! Remove the hardware from the door and place it somewhere safe. Press a nail to the base of the hinge pin, which will be right on the point where the door pivots open and closed. ", "Thank you for the information. Be careful to fix any drips or uneven roller strokes before the paint dries. Though the door surface is primed, it may have become dirty or oily during shipment and installation. Simply put, it can’t help protect your door against the weather which is very important especially for an exterior door. Last Updated: June 20, 2019 Taking an external door out of its frame for several days is unsafe if you cannot control who or what could come inside your house. Paint the bare aluminum with a primer before top coating. Front Doors. Paint the door with a second coat for more durability, this is because the steel doors get a lot of use and wear. This article has been viewed 579,770 times. The choice of paint will differ for inside or outside doors. If you aren’t able to use a sprayer, you can add Pentrol by Flood. ", "You gave complete details, step-by-step, and the tips were great! How Much Paint Do I Need? Cut around the panels of the door or any other trim details using the paint brush. If you were to paint a vinyl door with normal exterior paint, it would peel and chip very quickly, especially with frequent use and exposure to the elements. Really liked the detailed instructions. You want to protect that steel from moisture as soon as possible. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Both interior and exterior doors look better with fresh paint, but proper application is vital so the paint goes on smooth and doesn't peel off. The most common kinds of exterior door paint are acrylic resin or latex-based and with a semi-gloss finish. Browse our durable, cost-effective steel exterior doors from the High Definition (HD) collection. Using a sprayer will achieve the best finish, and a high-quality acrylic latex paint will be formulated with levelers to even out the finish and help it lay down without adding any thinning agents. Each product should say which others they are compatible with, but you can ask for help when purchasing them if you’re unsure. Whether your new front door is steel, fiberglass or wood, it probably was quite expensive. ", "This article answered many of my questions. I feel confident that I can do it. Paint provides an almost instant update to an old door. You should prime it before you re-paint it. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Check the information on your chosen paint for more information on the expected drying times. Automotive degreasing cleaners are another great alternative if that's easier for you to find. 1. Prep the exterior door and plastic trim for painting: Clean the door surface well. We installed a steel entrance door last summer. If there are any parts of the door you can’t remove, such as windows, you can cover these with painter’s tape to keep them clean. But add in the drying time and it’s a full-day project. When it’s on slick steel, paint doesn’t absorb into the material and “laydown” and you’re going to have a rough looking texture in your paint finish. Is there a special paint for use in extremely cold climates? It might be safer to paint the door in its frame rather than leaving it off its hinges for several days while it dries fully. This article was co-authored by Sam Adams. Sand the spots and treat with a rust inhibitor to neutralize the rust. Exterior Doors. Paint; Plumbing; Storage & Organization; Tools; Back Back Home. If painting both sides of the door, you'll need to work one side at a time. Use a sprayer or rollers for uniform texture. Choose the lighter background wood color as the base coat color for the door. Different primers will take different amounts of time to dry in different climates. Clean off the door thoroughly. I feel much more confident painting my steel door. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. If it’s on its last legs, it’s perhaps not as important that you paint it flawlessly. This door has a left inswing, which means the knob is on the left side when you pull the door toward you. ", "Great article. The door has already been painted, but I want to change the color. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. If you use a Direct-To-Metal paint, you can begin applying it without applying primer to the door first. The Paint a Six Panel Door page gives some tips and a painting scheme for painting six panel doors. Apply a smooth coat of oil-based primer. Then prime and paint as usual. (I used my Norwex cloth and water for this step.) Fortunately, today most newly installed steel entry doors come pre-primed, meaning a coat of primer was applied at the factory and the door is ready to paint. It's completely up to your taste preference, but the sharpest look is black with white trim. A former architect, Sam is now a full-service contractor, specializing in residential remodels and additions. Make sure you keep the hinge pins somewhere safe while you work on the door, although there should be replacements at your local hardware store if you lose them. The primer doesn’t have the protective qualities that exterior paint has. Right Hand Active In-Swing Explanation: When viewed from the exterior of the home, the door on the right side is active and swings into the home. ", "Simple yet detailed words to help a newbie get the job done! Note: Painting a door typically takes three to five hours, depending on the condition of the door and how fussy you are. JELD-WEN 36 in. 0. 3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c2\/Paint-a-Steel-Door-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Paint-a-Steel-Door-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c2\/Paint-a-Steel-Door-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1358976-v4-728px-Paint-a-Steel-Door-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"