How to Paint a Security Door

How to Paint a Security Door
Published: Oct 2, 2009
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
2 minute read

Things You Will Need

  • Flat head screw driver
  • Paint remover
  • Painter's tape
  • Plastic tarp
  • Paint brush
  • Oil base primer
  • Acrylic paint
  • Paint roller
  • Paint tray

Although painting a security door is not hard to do, the technique is slightly different than painting a wooden door due to the metal surface.

  1. Using a flat head screwdriver, remove the door from the hinges by pulling each screw out of the top of each hinge. Also remove the door handle, lock, kick plate and any other removable metal parts. Cover any non-removal parts, such as the mail slot and weather stripping, with painter's tape.

  2. If the security door paint is chipping off, you must remove all of the old paint by applying a paint remover. Place a plastic tarp in the yard and lay the door on top of it. Apply the paint remover with a paint brush. Wait the amount of time indicated on the instructions and remove by scraping the door with a paint scraper. The paint will peel right off. Wipe down the door with a rag and allow to dry completely. Turn the door over and repeat with the opposite side.

  3. Using a paint roller, paint the door with two coats of oil-base primer. Allow to dry completely, then turn the door over and repeat on the opposite side.

  4. Spray paint the door using an exterior acrylic house paint. Hold the can or sprayer approximately 6 inches away from the door and use long, even strokes. Allow to dry and repeat on the opposite side of the door.

  5. When the door is completely dry, reattach all hardware and install the door back on the hinges.

References

Tips

Instead of spray painting the door, you can choose to paint the door with a paint roller. Although the result is not as good as spray painting, it can look very good if care is taken to use even stokes.

Photo Credits

Peter Caulfield/sxc.hu

Peter Caulfield/sxc.hu

Kimberly Johnson

Kimberly Johnson is a freelance writer whose articles have appeared in various online publications including eHow, Suite101 and Examiner. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and began writing professionally in…

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