With just a few tips and not much money you can give your garage door a beautiful faux wood finish.
Staining steel garage doors.
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.
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.
Plus adding a coat of paint or stain can help preserve your garage door.
If you re set on painting or staining you will want to invest in a durable exterior latex paint.
If you have a paneled garage door start at the center of the paneling and work your way out.
Clopay actually recommends painting wood garage doors every 1 to 2 years.
Painting your garage door.
This is the key to success.
Painting or staining your garage door can do wonders for your home.
Gel stains are thick and designed to cling to and penetrate the surface.
In fact gel stains are often applied to give steel doors the look of wood grain.
In contrast to regular wood stain gel stain does not need to be wiped off or rubbed in.
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.
There are no garage doors that are completely maintenance free.
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.
The best way to color a steel door is with a gel stain.
Once applied they settle into the grain of the steel door to give it a textured look.
Begin by thoroughly cleaning your garage door using warm soapy water and a stiff brush.
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.
Painted doors will experience color fading while the clear protective top coat on stained and faux paint stained doors will degrade and thin.
Consider staining your metal garage door.
Whether from extreme sunlight or other weather conditions over time your garage door s finish will degrade.
If you re comfortable removing the door handle remove it to simplify the painting process.
From the street no one will know it isn t real wood.
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.
Any type of steel door can receive the faux bois treatment even a garage door.
The only trick is to keep the layer even throughout the surface and avoid dripping.