Choosing the Right Paint For Your Garage Door

Upgrading your garage door is one of the fastest and most consistent ways to boost the value of your home. This is because garage doors are large, at eye level, and—on many homes, at least—the first thing visitors see when they arrive.

However, fully replacing a garage door can be expensive. Many homeowners who’d like a lower-cost option decide to paint their garage door rather than replace it. The good news is that if you can paint a wall, you can paint your garage door. The trick lies in proper preparation and selecting a paint that will provide a durable, attractive finish.

We reached out to a pair of painting pros to help clear up confusion around this topic and guide you toward picking the perfect paint for your garage door project. Ryan Parr, the owner and president of Nashville Painting Professionals, spoke to the general steps of painting a garage door, while Anthony Kulikowski, owner of Five Star Painting of South Bend, broke down the steps for the most common types of garage doors.

General Garage Door Painting Advice

Painting a garage door is similar to any other painting project. It boils down to prep work, product selection and proper technique. Product selection is essential, since the door will be exposed to the elements year-round.

Parr recommends high-quality, exterior-grade paint that can stand up to sun, rain, snow and heat. “Start with a clean, primed surface,” he says. “And consider applying a paint formulated with UV blockers if your garage door is in direct sunlight.” Note that if you’re recoating a garage door that’s already in good condition, primer may not be necessary.

But it’s not just the type of paint that matters. “Color selection also impacts durability,” says Parr. “Light colors tend to withstand sun exposure better, while darker shades may fade over time.” (Color selection is especially important if painting vinyl.)

Wood Garage Doors

Treat wooden garage doors like any other exterior wood surface. The prep work is straightforward: Fill in cracks with wood filler, sand down rough areas, and clean the surface to remove dirt and sanding dust.

Once the prep is done, Kulikowski recommends moving on to “a quality exterior wood primer, ideally oil-based. This will seal the wood and prevent moisture issues that could lead to cracking.”

Choosing an oil-based variety allows virtually any paint to be used as the top coat. Don’t want to mess with the clean-up involved in oil paints? No problem – you can absolutely use a high-quality latex/acrylic primer. Just keep in mind that it limits the topcoat to a latex/acrylic exterior paint.

For the garage door base coat, Kulikowski recommends using exterior-grade acrylic latex paint because the latex is flexible, and handles temperature changes without cracking.

For the top coat, he suggests selecting a semi-gloss or satin exterior paint to boost durability and repel dirt.

Wood Composite Garage Doors

Composite materials may look like wood, but they have different surface properties, more like plastic than hardwood. You’ll need to clean the surface well, removing any oils that have leeched to it. Kulikowski also recommends light sanding to aid adhesion.

Speaking of adhesion, Kulikowski suggests spending a little more on a specialized primer when painting composites. “A bonding primer is important here,” he says. “Especially if the composite material is smooth or shiny.”

For the body coat, he recommends exterior acrylic latex paint with UV protection. But for the finish coat, he says, “Add a layer of UV-resistant clear sealant or polyurethane for extra durability against sun and weather.”

Steel or Aluminum Garage Doors

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Metal doors require an honest appraisal of their condition. If the door is mostly rusty, you should consider replacing it. But if the rust is only on the surface, you can remove it with a wire brush and sandpaper. Once the surface is prepped, Kulikowski advises selecting a primer and paint designed specifically for use on metal surfaces. “Use a rust-inhibitive metal primer,” he says. “Go with an exterior acrylic latex paint designed for metal surfaces, which handles temperature changes well. Finish with another coat of exterior latex or enamel for added protection and a more uniform look.”

Vinyl Garage Doors

The prep work for vinyl is similar to working with composite materials. Kulikowski recommends a thorough cleaning with mild detergent, especially if the door is older. Surprisingly, says Kulikowski, “Most newer vinyl doesn’t need primer, but for older vinyl or smooth surfaces, a bonding primer can improve adhesion.”

He recommends 100% acrylic latex paint for both the base and top coat. The color selection is especially important for vinyl doors. “Lighter colors (with a Light Reflective Value over 55) will help avoid heat buildup, which can warp vinyl.” says Kulikowski.

I can confirm the importance of this selection, as I’ve seen firsthand how dark colors can warp vinyl siding. (Vinyl surfaces with darker factory colors are often slightly thicker to resist the extremes of warping.)

Some paint manufacturers have lines of paint specifically marketed as vinyl-friendly, such as this selection from Benjamin Moore.

About the Experts

• Anthony Kulikowski has been a painter since high school, working as a contractor just before opening Five Star Painting, a Neighborly company, in 2017. He loves seeing his team succeed, giving back to the community, and working with his mentors, gathering knowledge he can share with future franchise owners.
• Ryan Parr, the owner and president of Nashville Painting Professionals, launched the company in July 2020 with a vision to provide top-notch painting services to residential and commercial clients in the Nashville area. Ryan expanded his venture to Charlotte in January 2022, establishing Charlotte Painting Professionals. Leveraging his skills and experience, Ryan has led the growth of both companies in two competitive markets, offering high-quality painting and remodeling services.