How do I prepare my metal door for painting?
spackle sand prime paint and then second coat-wow that will be beautiful
If the door isn't sanded you have to do it. If is rough, use sandpaper from the little number then to make the door softer you have to use sandpaper like 500 0r 600, After the sanding wash the door to take away all the dust, then buy a good primer in oil-base and give 2 coats to the door, after that buy a good oil-base paint and give to coats and let it dry. If you live near to the beach or in a place with a lot moister there are paints specially made for that kind of environment. If you can't stand the odor of the oil-base paint, there is a paint for metal in a water-base made by Superior that the odor isn't that strong.
There are a few things you need to determine first: 1) Is the door painted already and you want to put a new coat on? 2) Is the door dirty or have any rust on it? 3) Is the paint peeling off the door? I would start by looking at these three things first. If the door is brand new and not primed then I would recommend using an oil based primer. First use a denatured alchohol to remove any oil or dirt from the door. One coat should do the trick. Let it dry overnight and then give it a light sanding with a 200 or 220 grit sandpaper. Then use a tack cloth to wipe off any dust, making sure to get into all the grooves and detail (if there is any). Then you can use an oil based paint on top. One coat of this should work as well. You can also use a latex based paint as well. In either case, I would recommend using a semi-gloss finish. It's a lot easier to clean dirt and fingerprints from the door. When applying the paint, work the brush in one direction. Don't brush it on like your basting a turkey. You could end up thinning the paint as you brush it on. And don't overload the brush with paint either. You could put a lot more paint on in one spot and the finish will be uneven when it dries. If the door is already primed, make sure it's clean before applying the top coat. If the door is painted with a glossy finish, use a 220 grit sandpaper to lightly sand the glossy finish off the paint. Make sure you use the tack cloth to clean off the dust. If the door is painted but the paint is chipping off, remove any loose paint and follow the steps I mentioned for an unpainted door. You should come out with a nice looking door. If you are going to use a dark color (like hunter green), then apply two coats of the final color for the best finish and depth of color. Any questions, let me know.
