Restore An Aluminum Garage Door's Surface That Has Peeling Paint And Rust Spots
If your aluminum garage door has peeling paint and rust spots on its surface, learn how to make the necessary repairs to restore the door to its original condition. After you finish the project, you can easily keep the door maintained to prevent damage from occurring in the future.
Use The Following Materials
- water hose
- bucket of soapy water
- nylon scouring pad
- wire brush
- naval jelly
- rust inhibiting spray
- exterior spray primer
- exterior spray paint
- painter's tape
- vinyl tarp
Clean The Door And Remove Chipped Paint And Rust Spots
Clean the door's surface by spraying it off with a water hose and removing dirt with soapy water and a nylon scouring pad. Rinse well. Lay a vinyl tarp on the ground in front of the door. Move a wire brush over the door's surface to remove chipped paint and rust spots. Use firm pressure when rubbing each damaged area.
If any rust spots are difficult to remove, apply naval jelly over them to help dissolve them. Leave the naval jelly on the door's surface for several minutes. Continue rubbing the door with the wire brush to remove the remainder of the rust. Rinse the door off well with a water hose and wait for the aluminum surface to dry.
Protect The Aluminum And Add Fresh Primer And Paint
Cover hardware on the door with strips of painter's tape. Spray an even coat of rust inhibiting spray over the door's surface. Wait a couple hours for the spray to dry. The spray will prevent moisture from penetrating the metal, causing rust to form. Apply a coat of exterior spray primer to the areas that were previously damaged. Stand several inches away from the door while applying the primer so that it does not drip and appear uneven on the door's surface.
After the primer dries, apply a coat of exterior spray paint over the primer. Make sure the paint is applied evenly. After the paint dries, add a second coat of spray paint if primer is showing through in some areas. Wait for the paint to dry completely before removing the painter's tape and opening the door.
Maintain The Door
The rust inhibiting spray and exterior primer and paint will protect the door's surface from damage in the future. Keep the door clean by spraying it off with water and removing surface stains with a scrub brush and soapy water. As long as you continue to care for the door on a regular basis, damage will not occur.
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