Yes, most steel and wood garage doors can be painted, but read the door maker's instructions first, because painting after the factory can void the finish warranty. Use a 100% acrylic exterior latex over the right primer, avoid oil-based paint, and be careful with dark colors, which can bow insulated steel doors and crack wood.
Check the door and the warranty first
Find the manufacturer's paint or finishing instructions for your model before you buy paint. Amarr states that non-factory painting voids its paint finish warranty, and a Clopay painting sheet says that failing to follow its instructions voids the door's warranty. If a factory color is available, that route keeps the warranty intact.
Steel, wood and composite doors are treated differently. Steel needs rust protection, wood needs every surface sealed, and composite or overlay doors follow the maker's own rules.
How to paint a steel garage door
Disconnect the opener
Unplug the opener so the door cannot move while you work.
Wash and sand
Wash with mild detergent, remove loose or peeling paint and sand rough edges smooth, as Sherwin-Williams advises. Keep sandpaper off any window panes.
Spot-prime bare metal
Remove loose rust, then prime scratches or rust spots with a primer made to protect steel. Amarr says to paint within a day of the final cleaning.
Test a small area
Paint a small patch and let it dry. A Clopay sheet says to press masking tape on it and pull it off. If the paint peels or blisters, stop and ask the maker.
Tape and prime
Tape the trim, hardware and window panes. Prime the whole door if you are changing from a dark color or want better adhesion.
Paint top to bottom
Use a brush in the recessed panels and around the edges, then a roller on the flat areas. Sherwin-Williams cuts in a 2 to 3 inch border first.
Second coat, then reconnect
Let the first coat dry, then apply the second in the same order. Pull the tape while the last coat is slightly wet, then plug the opener back in.
Amarr and Clopay both specify 100% acrylic exterior-grade latex paint and say not to use oil-based paint on steel doors.
Wood doors: seal every surface
DASMA's guideline for wood doors says all six sides of each section must be finished, because the inside face and the edges are where moisture gets in. It calls for at least one coat of primer and two coats of exterior-grade finish on all wood surfaces. Clopay and Amarr both say wood sections should be finished before installation.
Redwood and cedar can bleed brown tannin through paint, so DASMA says to use a stain-blocking primer on them. Avoid film-forming varnishes and urethanes, which trap moisture and fail early. If a wood door sags, rots at the bottom or swells, see wood garage door repair before painting.
Steel versus wood, side by side
Steel and steel with overlays
- Rust-inhibiting primer on bare metal
- 100% acrylic exterior latex, no oil-based paint
- Dark colors can cause bowing on insulated doors
- Overlay styles may forbid very dark colors
Wood
- Every surface sealed, including edges
- One coat of primer, two coats of finish
- Dark colors can shrink and crack the wood
- Avoid varnish and urethane
Dark colors, weight and composite doors
Dark paint absorbs heat. Amarr says it can cause thermal bowing on insulated doors, and DASMA warns dark colors are not recommended, especially on a door facing south. A Clopay sheet allows solar reflective paint and restricts very dark colors on one of its steel lines. For HOA color rules, see garage door colors and HOA approval.
Paint also adds weight. Amarr notes that on wood doors it can affect the spring settings and door and opener performance. After painting, do the balance test: disconnect the opener and lift the door halfway. If it drops or feels heavy, stop and call a technician. Do not adjust the springs yourself. For composite, vinyl or fiberglass faces, follow the maker's written instructions.
When to call
Call if the paint is not the only problem: a dent, a sagging panel, a door that is off track or a spring or cable that looks worn. Painting over damage hides it and does not fix it. Emil Garage Doors repairs doors and installs new garage doors across Southern California, for example in Irvine and La Mesa, and the city pages cover Rancho Cordova too. Call (213) 340-4232 or send the estimate form.
Questions people ask
Can you paint a garage door without primer?
Bare or scratched steel and raw wood need primer. Sherwin-Williams says primer can be skipped on a previously painted door in good condition, but a bonding primer helps when covering a dark color.
What kind of paint do you use on a metal garage door?
Amarr and Clopay both say to use a 100% acrylic exterior-grade latex paint and not oil-based paint.
Can I paint my garage door a dark color?
Often not without risk. Dark colors can bow insulated steel and crack wood, and some makers forbid very dark colors on certain doors. Check your door's instructions first.
Will painting my garage door void the warranty?
It can. Amarr says non-factory painting voids its paint finish warranty, and Clopay says failing to follow its painting instructions voids the door warranty. Read your warranty before you start.
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Sources
- Amarr, Painting your garage doors (steel and wood)
- Sherwin-Williams, How to paint a garage door
- DASMA Technical Data Sheet 162, Wood Door Finishing Guidelines
- Clopay, Finishing (painting or staining) instructions for wood doors
- Painting instructions for steel and overlay garage doors (Clopay Coachman, via links.clopay.com)