Can you paint a metal door? Yes. With the correct tools and products, this is a job you can do at home. You'll need to remove the door from its frame, remove or tape off any hardware, and then sand, prime, and paint the door.
Just as essential as your paint type and color is its finish. Satin or semi-gloss are both good choices for a steel front door, since in addition to having a nice sheen they won't show nicks or scratches as easily as a flat or eggshell finish.
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. 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.
Steel doors are factory-primed and do not need additional priming. They must be painted promptly after wiping the door clean with a solvent such as acetone or mineral spirits. Allow the cleaning solvent to dry completely – until there is no residual odor.
Thoroughly clean the door with a degreaser. Lightly sand the door, then wipe it down to remove any lingering dust. Apply at least two coats of exterior satin or semi-gloss paint. Let paint dry completely, then rehang door.
Use two or more coats of high-quality exterior acrylic-latex paint for painting your metal front door. Glossier paint sheens are easier to clean and last longer. Use semi-gloss or gloss paint for your front door. Many new exterior doors come pre-primed.
Does Interior Paint Work On Metal? If you want to give metal decor items or outdoor metal furniture a new lease on life, you'll need either one of two types of paint. If the container identifies “for metal” somewhere on its label, you can use either water-based acrylic paint or oil-based paint.
Causes. Air bubbles occur when small amounts of air become trapped underneath the surface of the paint. According to Sherwin-Williams, mixing the paint at a high speed may cause air bubbles. The shaking forms air bubbles in the paint, which adhere to the door.
Paint has lost its adhesion to a galvanized metal surface. Remove all loose, peeling paint down to the bare metal. Clean the exposed metal of any contaminants, such as dirt, oil, etc., and treat them with an etching liquid. Be sure to wear long sleeves and gloves to protect your arms and hands.
The peeling can happen due to poor quality paint, lack of primer, and sometimes, too much moisture in the air. Good surface preparation and the proper choice of paint are important in successfully repainting the door -- and repainting is the only sure way to remedy the peeling.
The best paint for steel is Corotech® Waterborne Enamels for non-ferrous metals and Corotech® Alkyd Enamels for ferrous metals. For priming, use Corotech® Universal Metal Primer for non-ferrous metals and Corotech® Alkyd Primers for ferrous metals.
Metal surfaces can be painted with spray paint, which is easy to apply and dries quickly. Additionally, it is easy to find and is inexpensive, especially when compared to other home improvement products. The use of spray paint is a great option, but you should be very careful.
Latex-based exterior paint is the most flexible type and is quite popular. It fills in larger imperfections on a door's surface and resists cracking and chipping. Paint with a semi-gloss finish is extremely popular because it's easy to clean and can contrast nicely with other colors on the home's facade.
You can use either a water-based acrylic paint or an oil-based paint, as long as the container identifies "for metal" somewhere on its labeling. Oil-based paints take much longer to dry, and they need a high-quality paintbrush that doesn't shed during application.
“Painting a front door is best done with a brush. This is because most front doors have wood and/or glass panels and a roller would not be able to paint in the panels the same way that a brush would to give full coverage.”
Doors can be awkward to remove from their frames, so it's often easier to paint them in place. That way, you can paint both sides without having to wait for one side to dry. You also don't have to worry about nicking the fresh paint when you re-hang the door.
Sand the entire door to help the new paint stick well, remembering to sand the edges since you want to give them a fresh coat of paint as well. Start with medium-grit sandpaper if the door has visible blemishes, rough patches or drips from previous paint jobs.
Protect freshly painted doors from sticking
But even when latex paint is dry to the touch, it can still stick to the doorstop or weather stripping and then peel off when you open the door. To be safe, wait at least two days before closing an interior door.