When it comes to the paint, does your garage door have more in common with your car, or with your house? Most people never repaint their cars, but houses here in New Jersey normally require new exterior house paint every 5-7 years. So which is it for garage doors? Is it a good idea to repaint a garage door? Is it necessary?
Why Some Garage Doors Don’t Need Paint
Many garage doors are made of steel or aluminum, which comes with a baked-on coating called a powder coat. In many cases, this garage door paint lasts for decades without wearing or fading. Additionally, garage doors can be made of vinyl, which has the color infused right into the material, thus the garage door does not normally need paint.
Can You Paint Metal or Vinyl Garage Doors?
There are some cases when it is a good idea to paint a garage door, even if it is made of aluminum, steel or vinyl.
- When there is rust or damage that needs to be repaired
- When the original paint is fading or wearing out
- When you are not satisfied with the original color
The thing to keep in mind with painting metal or vinyl garage doors is that once you have done it, they will continue to need periodic repainting in the future, just like the rest of your home. Exterior house paint tends to last 5 to 7 years in New Jersey. A painted garage door might last a little longer than this, but it will not be maintenance free.
What about Painting Wooden Garage Doors?
Like other exterior wood surfaces, it is important to keep the paint in good shape. If the wood is sound and the paint gets periodic cleaning, you can paint your garage doors on the same schedule as the rest of your house. On doors where the wood has aged more, or where it gets more exposure to water, a higher frequency may be required.
How to Paint a Garage Door
The easiest way to paint any door is to remove it from the frame, and that goes for garage doors as well. That prevents a couple of potential trouble spots:
- Garage door panels sticking together as the paint dries, then tearing apart when the door is used
- Getting paint on the trim pieces around the garage door (which could also stick to the door and then tear)
- Not being able to paint the top and bottom of each panel. You wouldn’t see this when the door is closed, but as it opens and shuts, the color difference in the seams would show
Clean the door with a pressure washer or by scrubbing with mild soap, and let it dry thoroughly. Carefully repair any areas with damaged wood or rusty metal. Use a quality exterior primer to coat any places where there is bare wood or metal. If you are painting a wooden garage door, now is the time to go ahead and paint! If you are painting over vinyl or metal, consult with a knowledgeable paint store employee or a painting company, and make sure you use a product that will adhere properly to your garage door.
Use a paint brush for all edges and narrow pieces, and a roller for flat areas.
Cherry Hill Painting
The best results in any exterior painting project come from working with a reputable local painting company. Here in New Jersey, Cherry Hill Painting has been serving the community for more than five decades! We have earned a reputation for excellent customer service and high-quality painting. In addition to painting garage doors, we also offer exterior house painting, interior painting, carpentry, kitchen cabinet painting, wallpaper removal, and more.
Begin your house transformation today, by arranging your free house painting estimate with Cherry Hill Painting.