Painting A Steel Door Frame

The first step is to clean off loose rust and flaking paint and then apply a rust inhibitive primer.

Painting a steel door frame.

A steel door needs extra special care when it s painted because the wet paint can easily be manipulated by the tool that s applying it. It has not cracked. I tested it out on my exterior metal side door last summer which gets the same amount of sun all year long. If possible paint the door frame before installation to reduce the amount of masking required to protect surrounding surfaces.

After lots of trial and error using many combinations of primers and paint over the years i have come up with a successful formula. To paint a steel door you ll need exterior paint and an oil based primer designed specifically for metal. Rinse the surface then dry thoroughly. How to paint a metal door remove the door if possible and cover any parts of the door you do not wish to paint.

Thoroughly clean the door with a degreaser. Metal door frames are typically made out of steel and must be painted to protect them from weather related corrosion. That old wrought iron fence or steel gutter may look terrible but with the right preparation and primer most rusty metal surfaces can be restored to almost new. Before you apply the primer and paint lightly sand the door with 400 grit sandpaper so the primer and paint will stick to it better.

Wash the door with a sponge and a mixture of water and a low suds detergent such as spic and span. When it s on slick steel paint doesn t absorb into the material and laydown and you re going to have a rough looking texture in your paint finish. Steel door frames are strong and durable alternatives to wooden door frames. Then apply 2 coats of the primer letting it dry after each coat.

However steel door frames are susceptible to damage including dents and rust. Sudsy detergents will leave the surface too slippery. Lightly sand the door then wipe it. The metal heats up like an oven and over time bakes the paint right off the door.

Video of the day. Applying the paint is the most satisfying part of painting a steel door plan on a minimum of one coat of primer and two coats of finish. Touch up any marks or scratched caused during installation. Brushing steel doors probably the most popular way to paint a steel door requiring the least investment of tools.

If painting light to moderately used indoor metal surfaces think wall sconces bed frames or guest room night tables go with water based acrylic paint a cheaper 15 to 40 per gallon.