Your garage door is just as important to your home’s exterior as the rest of your house, and it needs to be painted from time to time. Painting it will make it look fresh and clean, and will protect the material underneath. You will find this to be a simple project, and it will give your entire home a lift.

Prepare Your Garage Door

You should choose a day that is sunny and has a mild temperature. You should check the weather to make sure that it isn’t going to rain in the next day or two, and you want the temperature to be mild. Spring is a great time to undertake this type of project, but you can do it any time of year, as long as it isn’t too hot, too cold, or too humid.

You need to clean the garage door before you paint it. You can use warm water and soap applied with a sponge or cloth. Make sure you start at the top and work your way down to the bottom. This is an important step because if you paint over dirt, it can bleed through the paint or even prevent the paint from sticking to the garage door. It can leave an uneven finish as well.

Once you have cleaned the door, rinse it with your hose. Towel dry it and let it dry completely before you paint, because paint will not stick evenly to a wet surface.

Prepare the Area Around the Garage Door

Now that your garage door is clean, you should put a drop cloth under the area where you plan to paint. This will prevent paint from splattering on the garage floor or the driveway. Then, use painter’s tape to mark off the sides of the garage door so you don’t paint the sides of the house or other areas that should not be painted.

Take your time and be accurate when you tape the sides of the garage door. If you end up with paint there, you will have to scrape it to remove it, which can be a difficult job.

Use Primer and Paint

Even if you are painting the garage door the same color as it is now, you should apply a coat of primer first. The primer will smooth out the surface and ensure that your paint has something clean and smooth to stick to. Next, apply the paint. You can stick with white or use a fun color. Remember that lighter shades of paint do not fade as much in the sunlight, so choose the best shade for your home.

You should use a roller and a brush. The brush can help you cover hard to reach spots that are in crevices. You will want to let the paint dry for between twelve and twenty-four hours before you touch it. You should leave the door closed during this time. The paint should be dry to the touch within a few hours, but it will still be vulnerable to damage for up to twenty-four hours, so it is best to leave it alone during this time.