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Give the Garage
a Fresh New Face!
 Now
that Spring has you spending more time outdoors, you may have
noticed your garage door looking less than impressive - with
large surface areas and constant exposure to the elements,
garage doors can become scratched, chipped, faded and dull,
and that really affects the curb appeal of your home. Painting
your garage door immediately gives your home a fresh new face.
Garage doors are usually constructed of
wood or metal. Both can be painted, but each requires a different
preparation and application technique:
Wooden Doors:
If you plan to paint a wooden garage door,
you must first treat the knots in the wood so they won’t
show through. To do this, spot prime over knots and any other
areas in the doors where there is resin bleeding or staining
with a shellac-based primer. Allow 30 minutes to dry.
Next, apply one coat of a good quality exterior
primer, covering the edges and painting both sides of the
door. Leave to dry for a minimum of 48 hours. If your door
has many contours, use a Dynamic Shed Resistant mini roller
to apply all coatings – they’re the right size
and shape to get into all the nooks and crannies while not
foregoing production time due to their smaller size. When
the primer has dried, repair any damage in the door with DynaPatch
spackle. Once dry, sand the door using a 150 grit or finer
sandpaper. Then, remove all dust particles using a Dynamic
tack cloth by wiping down the entire door. Now, spot prime
the repaired areas. Next, apply the first coat of exterior
paint of your choice and allow to dry according to product
directions. Once the first coat of paint has dried, sand the
door lightly with a 220 grit or finer sandpaper, wipe with
your tack cloth again, and apply the finishing coat.
To stain a wooden garage door with a clear
or translucent finish, apply a coat of the stain to the bare
wood first. Then, spot prime knots or bleeds with a clear
shellac as required and apply another coat of stain.
To varnish a door, start by thinning
out the first coat of varnish. Pour a small amount of varnish
into a pan and mix with the recommended solvent – Dynamic
has many types to choose from. Apply to the door and allow
to dry. Sand the dried surface with a 150 grit sandpaper,
ensuring you remove all dust with a tack cloth. Apply a second
coat of varnish, and possibly a third, to create a truly stunning
finish. If you use a solvent-based varnish, we recommend you
apply them with a Dynamic Stain brush or with a Mohair mini
roller. Acrylic based varnishes can also be applied with a
stain brush, but the preferred applicator would be a Dynamic
Flocked Foam mini roller because rolling always results in
a smoother finish than brushing will achieve.
Metal Doors
Normal exterior paint will not adhere to
metal garage doors since they are usually galvanized to prevent
rust. To overcome this problem, you should first apply a bonding
primer or an Acrylic or Latex metal primer that clearly states
it is suited for this situation. If you’re unsure about
what to use, just ask your local Dynamic dealer.
If you have a painted metal door that’s
chipped, cracked or dull, remove any failing particles and
fill crevices with Dynamic DynaPatch heavy bodied spackle.
Let the spakle dry and then sand it with 150 grit sandpaper.
Apply exterior primer to these repaired areas and any exposed
metal before painting.
Tips & Techniques
• Using a paint roller
- usually a mini - to create a smooth finish.
• Paint in a way that follows the natural
direction of your garage door – paint one horizontal
panel at a
time; work top to bottom or left to
right, as appropriate.
• To dry the paint, swing your garage door
up to avoid drips and to promote even drying.
By simply changing the colour of your
garage and/or other doors, you can create a whole new look
for the exterior of your home. Visit a Dynamic dealer near
you to get all the advice and tools you need for a professional
looking job!
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