Painting metal doors is simple and inexpensive once you have all the necessary tools. Metal doors can be given a new lease of life with the right paint job. It is important, though, to have a thorough understanding about the type of door, primer and paint to be used in order to increase the longevity and improve the aesthetic beauty of the metal door.

Cleaning the door

The first step is to clean the door to remove dust and rust from the door. Remove the door off its hinges and place it on a pair of sawhorses. This allows easy handling of the door. Remove the doorknob, kick plate and any other attachments that can be removed. Remove the window stripping. Using a damp rag, remove all traces of dust especially around edges. Using alcohol or mineral spirit, clean all over the door to remove dirt. Use sandpaper to remove rust from the door after the paint has been removed. sanding may have to be done more than once to ensure a smooth surface. Alternate sanding with grinding using a grinder to removes holes and cuts. Fill holes and indentations with liquid metal or filling compound. Repeat sanding procedure. Use masking tape to tape over all areas that need not be painted.

Painting the door

The door has to be primed before painting it. Use a universal oil-based primer meant for metal surfaces. Apply two to three times over all areas that has to be painted letting each coat to dry. Primer can be applied using an aerosol can too. Ensure that the primer is evenly coated. Once the primer has dried, the door is ready to be painted. Choose a paint that will not fade over time. Apply the paint using a brush or spray can. Apply from top to bottom. When using a spray can, spray many thin coats. Allow each coating to dry before applying the next coat of paint. Once the paint has dried, reattach the doorknob and other attachments. Attach the door to its hinges.

Tips

When removing door hardware, place each part in a separate plastic bag and label it. This prevents confusion when having to attach it to the door. Do the complete project away from direct sunlight. Sunlight speeds up fading of the paint. If you used diesel to clean the door, rinse the door with water. Use latex paint for steel doors and for external doors exposed to sunlight use acrylic paint. Use a hair dryer to speed up the drying process of primer and paint.

Source:

House Painting Info: Painting a Steel Door

Hammerzone: Re-painting a Steel Door

More Information:

Do It Yourself: Metal Door Painting Start to Finish

Paint and Coatings Resource Center: Painting Metal, Steel Doors