Painting Your Door

PAINTING YOUR GARAGE DOOR

Instructions effective May 11, 2020.

Read these instructions completely prior to painting your door, as some doors require additional preparation or have limitations on approved colors. Refer to your doors manual for specific instructions regarding paint repair.

Notice: Failure to follow these instructions will void warranty of your door.

CHOOSING THE PROPER PAINT

Your garage door can be painted with high quality 100% acrylic latex (flat, satin or semi-gloss) exterior grade paint.

A bonding primer is strongly recommended as a first coat to improve adhesion of the top coat of latex paint.

Notice: Do not use any type of oil-based paint or alkyd modified paint. These paints will void the warranty of your door.

If your door is a Coachman® product You must check the Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of the paint color.

Recommended paint: We strongly recommend all doors are painted with solar reflective paint when available. These paints help reflect more sunlight keeping the surface of the door cooler.

For Coachman® doors, tested and approved solar reflective paint is required for darker colors (when the Light Reflective Value (LRV) of the color is between 13 - 38). Black and very dark colors (when the Light Reflective Value (LRV) is 12 or less) are NOT permitted.

Color LRV Coachman® All Other Product
0 to 12 Not Permitted Solar Reflective Recommended (not required)
13 to 38 Solar Reflective Required Solar Reflective Recommended (not required)
39 to 100 Solar Reflective Recommended (not required) Solar Reflective Recommended (not required)

NOTE: Doors painted dark colors may be pre-disposed to thermal bowing, especially when in direct sunlight or a high heat / high UV environment. When insulated doors are finished with a dark color, this condition may occur causing warping, rubbing, or other issues. This is not considered a product defect. For detailed information, see Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association Technical Data Sheet 185. http://www.dasma.com/pdf/publications/techdatasheets/commercialresidential/tds185.pdf

What is Light Reflective Value or LRV?

LRV is an acronym for Light Reflectance Value. Simply put, LRV means the amount visible light absorbed or reflected from a solid surface. LRV is expressed as a value from O to 100. An LRV of O means that 100% of the visible light is absorbed by the surface. Black surfaces are close to LRV 0. Since these dark colors absorb the most solar radiation energy, they also heat to higher temperatures in direct sunlight. This is the reason black car surfaces are much hotter in the sun, even on mild temperature days.

How do I determine the LRV of my color?

Some paint manufacturers supply LRV information readily on their paper color chips or via their website. In other cases, it may be necessary to contact the paint manufacturer to request this information.

Surface Preparation

Once you have selected the proper paint, the next step is to be sure the door is free of dirt, oil, caulk, waxes and mildew. Both steel and overlay surfaces must be suitably prepared and cleaned. Window frames and inserts will also need prepared to remove any surface gloss.

Preparing overlays, window grilles, and window frames:

  • Lightly scuff the entire exposed surface of only the overlays, window grilles, and window frames with medium sandpaper.

NOTE: Sanding could remove rust-inhibiting compounds from the steel portion of the door, therefore, sanding should be done only to damaged areas where bare metal has been exposed (refer to main instructions for details on repair).

Cleaning the door:

  • Make a solution of trisodium phosphate (or a biodegradable cleaner) using 1/3 cup of powder to 1-1/2 to 2 gallons of water.
  • NEVER BLEND CLEANERS OR AMMONIA WITH BLEACH.
  • Saturate cleaning pad (3M synthetic steel wool­gray not green) and rub with even pressure to lightly scuff surface while applying the cleaning solution over all surfaces to be painted.
  • Rinse with clean water and sponge, changing water often.
  • A final wipe and rinse with clean water and sponge should be done to remove any loose material.

NOTE: You must remove any wax applied to the door before cleaning (doors are not waxed in the manufacturing process). Using moderate pressure, wipe the door surface with a rag saturated with xylene (xylol). DO NOT allow it to sit on door for extended time. Damage to your door's paint system can occur if overexposed to this or other solvents.

Paint Pre-Test

All paints are not created equal. The following test must be performed prior to application on the entire door:

  • Apply paint on a small area of door (following instructions on paint container).
  • Allow paint to dry and evaluate for any blistering or peeling.
  • Perform adherence test by applying strip of masking tape over painted area and peel back tape. Check to see that paint adheres to door and not to tape.

NOTE: If paint shows signs of poor adherence (blistering or peeling) there may be a problem with the paint or surface preparation. DO NOT PROCEED! A new paint or further preparation of surface is called for.

Paint Application

After satisfactorily testing a paint, follow directions on paint container and apply to door. Be sure to allow adequate drying time should you wish to apply a second coat.

NOTE: DO NOT apply paint when door surface temperature is different from manufacturer's suggested temperature range for application.