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Click on the
questions below to answer your common garage door questions.
How do I clean my pre-finished steel garage door?
With proper annual cleaning you can improve the appearance of your pre-finished steel garage door.
Simply follow these steps annually:
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Remove dust, dirt and mildew by the use of a diluted solution of common bleach OR mild household detergent at a concentration of one cup in five gallons of warm water. (CAUTION: Never mix Bleach and Cleansers)
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Rinse with clear water after washing and allow to dry completely.
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You can wipe the inner surface clean, as you would a cooker or refrigerator.
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For added protection of a pre-painted steel door, apply wax suitable for automotive use.
How do I clean by wood garage door?
By yearly inspection and cleaning of your wood garage door exterior.
If the finish appears to be in good condition, cleaning and touch-up work is often adequate. Simply follow these steps:
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Remove dust, dirt and mildew by washing your wood door with a diluted solution of mild household detergent at a concentration of one cup in five gallons of warm water.
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Rinse with clear water after washing and allow to dry completely.
If the finish is badly eroded and thin, clean where the wood substrate is showing through as above and prime those areas using an alkyd/oil primer.
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Following the cleaning and priming with a complete priming and finish
coating
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If there is no bare wood showing through, finish coating only may be
required
How do I paint my pre-finished steel door if I want to match my home's
colour?
To prepare your pre-finished steel garage door for painting, it is important to give it a good cleaning, but do not wax. To prevent the paint from peeling or flaking remove surface wax.
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Remove surface scratches which have not exposed the metal substrate by lightly buffing or sanding with 0000 steel wool or No. 400 sand paper to create a smoother surface for painting. Do not over buff or sand the garage door, because if the surface is too smooth the paint will not adhere to the door.
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Do not attempt to remove
scratches if your steel door surface has a finished paint texture i.e. wood grain, stucco etc due to the increased danger of exposing the metal substrate. Simply paint the door with a high quality metal primer. Follow drying time on primer can label before applying topcoat.
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To prevent rust from forming, treat any scratches that have exposed the substrate by sanding the exposed area lightly and then painting with a high quality metal primer. Follow drying time on primer can label before applying topcoat.
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After properly preparing the surface according to the above instructions and allowing it to dry thoroughly, coat the door with a premium quality latex house paint. Follow the paint label directions explicitly.
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Oil base paint is not recommended. Follow previous instructions on priming the door for painting, painting with latex paint may cause accelerated rusting of steel if substrate is exposed.
How do I paint my wood garage door?
Annually sealing and/or painting your wood garage door helps prevent water damage.
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It is important to
thoroughly clean your wood garage door before you begin painting to remove any dirt, dust or mildew that may have accumulated.
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After cleaning the door, you should spot prime any areas where damage may have occurred to the factory primer using
an oil/alkyd primer.
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After properly preparing the surface of the door, paint the door with a quality oil base paint (satin) intended for exterior use. Follow the instructions on the paint manufacturer's finish label explicitly.
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Pay attention to the instructions regarding surface temperature, coverage, rate of spread and recommended application procedures.
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The paint can be applied by roller, brush, pad or spray, as long as the resultant film is the recommended thickness, is uniform in coverage and is properly cured.
The following paints are NOT recommended:-
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