Security, durability, and style are three reasons why metal doors are increasingly favored over traditional wood doors even in apartment buildings, motels, and private residences. Burglars trying to break-in through the main door will certainly meet more resistance from metal doors than from one made of wood. Metal is also more resistant to the elements than wood. With the proper sealant, metal can easily outlast wood when both are exposed to the sun, snow, sleet, or showers. While metal doors installed in industrial and commercial settings often look dull and dreary, those designed for private residences are as elaborate and lavish as any other door. They can be painted any color you desire and even made to look like any type of wood.
Painting a metal door is similar to painting any other surface but it does have a few of its own unique problems. Nonetheless, such problems are not beyond the capabilities of any experienced do-it-yourselfer with the right tools and attitudes.
For best results, it is best to remove the door from its frame as well as all the hardware installed, that is, doorknobs, latches, locks, knockers, and hinges. Any weather stripping should also be removed, but if this is too difficult, you can cover it with tape. If the door has glass windows and there are traces of glazing that has pushed out of them, remove these as well using a razor and cleaning up with denatured alcohol. Tape paper over the windows to protect them.
Cleaning the surface with mild soap and water is a necessary step to assure the proper adhesion of your paint. If there are stubborn stains, you can use denatured alcohol. If you find a few dents and scratches, you may want to fix them first with an auto body filler. Be sure to sand these surfaces after the filler has dried and cured.
Apply a suitable primer on the repaired spots as well as any bare areas. If you are using a different type of paint than the previous coating, you will need to prime the entire door. Brand new doors, on the other hand, are often pre-primed by the manufacturer, otherwise you will need to apply it yourself.
After the priming, you are ready to apply your desired colored. You can use either a regular paint brush, roller brush, or paint spray. Using an ordinary paint brush, though least expensive, may show brush marks on the door. Roller brushes deliver a smoother surface, but the best results come from spraying. It requires, however, more expensive equipment. Of course, if there are elaborate designs on the door, you may need to use regular brushes in combination with either roller brushing or spray painting.