Any garage door can be painted whether it’s made from metal, timber, UPVC or a composite.
The main concern homeowners have, is whether the painted finish will resist wear and tear. Will it stand up to abrasion? Will it peel away if provoked? Will the paint flake and come away from the door after a harsh winter?
Here’s everything you need to know:
Best paint for garage doors
Garage doors need painting with exterior solvent-based paint. The paint can be specially formulated for the substrate (e.g. composite), or it can be a multi-purpose paint so long as it is rated for outdoor use.
The easiest paints to use are ‘all-in-one’ exterior paints that act as the primer, paint and topcoat in a single product. These paints are specially formulated to be simple but effective, with most manufacturers guaranteeing the finish.
At Bespoke UPVC, we use an all-in-one coating system and guarantee the finish for 10-years whether your garage door is metal, wood, UPVC or GRP.
Preparing garage doors for paint
When painting a garage door, the surface needs preparation. The extent of the preparation required depends on the condition of the door. It needs to be:
- Clean
- Smooth
- Free from old paint
- Free from corrosion
Some materials need priming, either with a special primer or a thinned version of the primary paint. Some surfaces may need light sanding. If the garage door has existing paint, it will need sanding to remove any loose paint.
The aim of preparation is to create a clean and ideal surface for the paint to adhere to. This is the key to a finish that lasts and lasts.
Paint application type for garage doors
Another crucial consideration is application type. You should never paint a garage door with a brush because this will create unsightly brush marks.
The cleanest way to paint a garage door is with an electric spray painting gun with a 12-inch spray fan. This setup will completely cover a garage door top to bottom in the first coat in less than a minute, leaving 30 minutes between coats.
The spray paint should be applied in thin, even coats. Most garage doors need three coats for complete coverage with additional touch-ups in some areas.
If you don’t want to use a spray painting gun, the next best thing is a roller. A roller will give you a smooth, even finish – just avoid brushes!
Cost to spray paint a garage door
The cost to paint a garage door is around £250 + VAT with a professional company. We spray paint garage doors rather than brush them.
Spray painting is what they do at the factory because it’s quick and provides an even finish. We spray three coats of paint onto the door leaving 30 minutes between each coat. We use solvent-based paint that is exceptionally hard-wearing and designed for outdoor use.
If you want to paint your garage door yourself, you can’t buy the same spray-painting equipment we have over the counter, but you can get a cheap electric sprayer. These are handy to have around for various DIY projects.
Painting garage doors is an art form, and the aim is always to paint them in such a way they appear as though that’s how they left the factory.
If you have a garage door that needs painting, we provide quotes for free. Send us a photo to info@bespokeupvcsprayers.co.uk or call us on 0800 037 0658. All our spray-painting work comes with a 10-year guarantee for complete peace of mind.
