What steps do I need to take to repaint my front door to my house, not wooden-?

Question

We bought a house and the front door is a disaster. Very sturdy good door, but someone painted it, with I think, the wrong kind of paint and it is all chipping off in chunks. It is not wooden.. not sure what other kinds there are, but I think it is some sort of metal. What should I do to get the paint that is on there now OFF? A metal brush would scratch it, wouldn't it? And what kind of paint should be used to do it right?? Rustoleum I heard is the only paint for metal?? ANY advise would be great!

Answer 1

If it a metal door you can use a paint stripper to get the old paint off and then you just need to buy paint that gos on metal they sell a DTM paint (Direct to metal paint). Be sure if you going to use a stripper that you protect an thing around your door (wood, carpet, tile). good luck

Answer 2

Sounds like a steel cased door, and it is wood beneath, The steel skin is supposed to add durability. The problem is that the skin does not neccesarily surround the door completely.

While understanding that you probably cannot be without a door for any extended period, the best method for stripping, sanding, priming and spray painting, would be to remove it.

Perhaps you can break the process into the various stages.

Once the door has been stripped, sanded and cleaned, the paint should be an exterior grade, both in the primer and the finish coats, and certainly it can be rolled on, even with a foam roller cover (Smooth finish) but if I was doing the job, I'd probably spray it in multiple coats.

The casing is steel, and can rust, but you may not want a high gloss "Rustoleum" type finish. In any case a decent paint store (Not strictly Big Box) will be happy to advise you properly.

Steven Wolf

Answer 3

If its starting to chip and peel you need to get all the old paint off. Otherwise when you paint over it you will see where you painted over the chipped off paint because the surface will not be smooth. Us a wire brush to get old paint of and then a fine sand paper to remove the small scratches made by brush. If you want you might be able to remove the door and pressure wash the paint off. Careful, if its a wood door with a metal sleave you might get water between the metal and wood and get rot and mold. Once you get down to the metal use a metal primer and then an outdoor latex paint.

Answer 4

Use a liquid paint stripper to remove the old paint. This stuff is very messy and you don't want to get it on anything else. It's very corrosive, so make sure you wear rubber gloves ,etc.
The can will have all of the safety precautions on it. Your best bet is to remove the door for this part. If you remove the door, you can use a power washer to remove the stripper and it will save a lot of time.

After you get the door stripped, lightly sand it with 220 grit sand paper. Prime it and paint it. Buy your primer and paint at one of the more upscale lumber and home centers. Not your local Home Depot or Lowe's. The difference in price is money well spent. Get advice from their paint experts on what primer and paint to use.

Answer 5

for a standard door small steps ( no only joking)
It sounds to me it could be an alloy door try to get the old paint off with a sander using fine grade paper or a paint stripper( test a small area first) thoroughly wash the door with sugar soap allow to dry remember preparation is the most important part of any job I prefer a hammer finish find it lasts longer than smooth for metal. Wood doors two undercoats + 1 high gloss produces the best results

Answer 6

if the door is metal then you can get a liquid paint stripper. you brush the liquid on the door and it disolves the paint. After the recomended time, you take a putty knife and wipe it off. this will leave your door to the bare metal.

Once that is done, apply two coats of semi-gloss rustoleum Paint. The first coat will prim the door, the second coat will add the extra layer of protection to the door.

Answer 7

It is a lot of work, but sandpaper would work well to prep the door. It is probably a steel door, they are very common for entry doors. Most manufacturers will state that the primer applied to the door will need to be lightly sanded before painting. Your door was probably painted with an exterior type house paint and not properly prepped first.

Answer 8

I'm not really sure. I have a metal door, also. But, its paint is good, although I'd like to paint it a different color. (It's just one of the many things on my 'to do' list.)

The only thing I could suggest is talking with the folks at Lowes or Home Depot or Ace Hardware...or all three.

Good luck!