How to Repaint Aluminum Doors
You will need to repaint an aluminum door if the paint starts to peel from the surface or if the door has become worn over time. Make sure to protect areas around your door with painter's tape and clean the door thoroughly before you begin painting to ensure that you have a well painted door when you are done.
Things You'll Need:
- Painter's tape
- Scrub brush
- Soap and water
- Denatured alcohol
- Clean cloth
- Fine grit sandpaper
- Paint thinner
- Oil-based paint
- Paint tray, rollers and small paintbrushes
- Latex paint
- Protect areas on and around the door before you begin by covering them with painter's tape. Cover hardware and any glass on the door so that you do not get paint on these areas.
- Scrub dirt and debris from the aluminum door with a scrub brush using soap and water. Rinse the door when you are done cleaning to remove any soap residue and dry off the door with a clean cloth. Use denatured alcohol to wipe the door down after you have scrubbed it to make sure that the aluminum is as clean as possible. Rinse the door again with clean water and let it dry completely.
- Use fine grit sandpaper to sand the entire door. Use fine grit only because this ensures that the aluminum does not become damaged by deep scratches. Make sure to sand all areas of the door removing old paint and providing a surface for new paint to stick to. Wipe off any dust from the door that you have created with a clean cloth.
- Mix paint thinner and oil-based paint together to create a primer for the aluminum door. Add enough paint thinner to the paint to thin it out making sure that it does not become too runny. Pour the mixture into a paint tray and use a roller to apply the paint to your door. Use a small paintbrush to get areas that couldn't be reached by your roller.
- Pour latex paint into a paint tray in the color you have chosen to paint your door. Use a roller to paint the door making sure to cover the door completely. Use your small paintbrush to get into areas that the roller could not reach.
- Wait for the latex paint to dry and carefully remove the painter's tape making sure that you do not pull up any of the paint that you have just placed on the door.