Staining Steel Garage Doors

From the street no one will know it isn t real wood.

Staining steel garage doors.

Painting or staining your garage door can do wonders for your home. Step 4 drying. Painting your garage door. Gel stains are thick and designed to cling to and penetrate the surface.

In contrast to regular wood stain gel stain does not need to be wiped off or rubbed in. Whether from extreme sunlight or other weather conditions over time your garage door s finish will degrade. Depending on the condition of the paint that s currently on your metal garage door you may have to do a little sanding to remove any superficial rust. In fact gel stains are often applied to give steel doors the look of wood grain.

After masking the areas surrounding the door miller applies what will be the first of three applications of colored stain using a standard brush and a stain pad to create streaks and highlights. If your garage door is less than five years old and has a glazed paint finish you ll have to sand it to remove the sheen in order for the stain to adhere properly. There are no garage doors that are completely maintenance free. The hubster used a cheap synthetic brush and worked one section at a time brushing on the gel stain in the direction of the pattern in the door.

According to miller any garage door can be faux finished but steel doors like the ones pictured below are particularly good candidates because they re inexpensive and dimensionally stable. If you don t have a power washer i d recommend cleaning it well with your hose and then giving it a good cleaning with vinegar and a sponge and finish with a good rinse. Any type of steel door can receive the faux bois treatment even a garage door. The best way to color a steel door is with a gel stain.

Consider staining your metal garage door. Clopay actually recommends painting wood garage doors every 1 to 2 years. Plus adding a coat of paint or stain can help preserve your garage door. This is the key to success.

If you re comfortable removing the door handle remove it to simplify the painting process. Once applied they settle into the grain of the steel door to give it a textured look. Painted doors will experience color fading while the clear protective top coat on stained and faux paint stained doors will degrade and thin. Begin by thoroughly cleaning your garage door using warm soapy water and a stiff brush.

Preparing the project area set a dropcloth on the ground near the door and tape the door frame and hardware with painter s tape to protect it from primer and paint. Steel doors though often a practical selection for the energy efficiency they offer may not appear particularly attractive or match a home s existing decor and may require staining. The only trick is to keep the layer even throughout the surface and avoid dripping.