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Painting your metal screen door is a great do-it-yourself project and does not require many materials to complete. Gather your materials and follow the easy step-by-step instructions to get your project off the ground.
You want to make sure all dirt is removed from the door. Use an ammonia and water solution to clean all loose dirt from the door. You can use a scrub sponge to help clean it.
If the door is constructed of steel, you will want to remove any rust that is present using a wire brush. On aluminum, an oxidation process occurs but it doesn’t rust. You don’t have to do anything special to that. Tape off any areas that you do not want to get paint on using blue painter’s tape.
You will want to use a good metal primer before actually painting the metal screen door. This adds an additional step, but in the end it helps to protect the door. It will also assist in making sure the paint adheres to the surface being painted.
If you are brush painting, you will want to be sure to put the paint in nice, even coats. Do not paint “back and forth." Paint in one direction only. This will help to prevent brush lines and streaks.
If you are using spray paint, many thin coats of paint are much better than one thick coat. This will also prevent runs and the layers will dry relatively quickly. The end result will be a much smoother finish for the door.
Now your old metal screen door looks good as new again. It is amazing what a little advice and some paint can do.
TIP: Don't forget to check your paint's ingredients to see if they're toxic to breathe in, and wear the appropriate safety equipment. You'll need to wear eye goggles and a respirator mask any time you work with spray paint.
After you see my painted metal storm door, you will want to paint your storm door to match your front door too. I’ve had people ask me if you can paint a storm door, and the answer is yes you can! I will share the best way to paint the metal trim around your glass door and how to paint your front door too!
I painted our front door red about 15 years ago. I think it was the first time I painted a door. Let me tell you….when you use red paint, it takes several coats of paint to get good coverage. Or maybe I just didn’t know what I was doing. I’ve learned a few things about painting since then and still have much to learn.
Anyway, It’s time for a paint change. We are slowly upping the curb appeal of our home. We updated the house shutters and the light fixtures on each side of the door this year.
The red paint on the door is oil-based, so the door needed priming. I used Glidden Gripper Primer in Grey. I find gray works well under any paint color and is easier to cover than a white primer.
They don’t make the grey primer anymore so I have them tint the white primer for me. Update May 2021- They no longer make the Glidden Gripper or it doesn’t go by the same name. Now the name is PPG Gripper and you can find it at Home Depot.
I chose Behr Premium Plus Ultra paint and primer to paint the door. When doing a job like this, I like to be extra sure and prime, prime, and prime. Behr Ultra goes on smoothly and doesn’t chip off.
Before painting, I taped off the door knob with painter’s tape. I removed the kick plate and the door knocker. They needed to be updated, and that’s a post for a later day.
The door is primed and ready for paint. I applied one coat of primer using a 2-inch synthetic bristle paint brush. The primer gives the top coat a good base to grip.
I brushed one coat of paint on the door and let it dry overnight. Latex paint dries fast but I was ready for a break. The next day I applied another coat of paint and that did the job. I also used a two-inch synthetic bristle paint brush to apply the blue paint.
Painting a panel door is a little different from painting a flat door. On a flat door, you can use a roller or a paint brush to apply the paint. When using a brush always apply the paint in the same direction, either vertical or horizontal.
On a panel door like mine I always paint the inside mold details on the panels and then move to the inside of the panel with the paint. I find it is easier to use a smaller 1-inch paint brush for these details.
Next paint the horizontal boards, on the middle, top, and bottom then paint the two vertical side boards.
Now, about that shiny brass hardware I painted. I’ll give you a preview!
This is how the door knocker looked before painting. And yes, I know it’s upside down, thanks to one of my on-the-ball readers. I’m a little nutty sometimes.
And it’s still upside down, but isn’t the color much better? See the spray paint makeover project here.
This is how the wood door looked after the paint job and the hardware spray paint makeover. I hated the look of the white metal around the glass storm door. It really stood out against the blue door, so it got me thinking. I asked my husband if he thought the metal would paint up ok. He said go for it.
To tell you the truth, I wasn’t sure this paint project would turn out okay, but I wanted to give it a try anyway. I’m glad I did. I’ve often looked at the frame around the glass storm door, wondering how it would look painted to match the front door paint. Now I know.
I taped off all the areas I didn’t want to paint accidentally. I’m a very messy painter. Painter’s tape has saved me many, many times. The shelf on the step ladder was a great place to set my paint and work tools.
I decided to paint the metal door handle and the doorbell the same blue color. I didn’t know if the paint would stick to them either, but I might as well try it. I also primed this door.
You can never go wrong when starting a paint project with a coat of primer. I painted the weather stripping, metal door casing, and the inside casing between the storm door and front door blue. I used a high-quality synthetic paint brush. They are always best for latex paint.
The only thing I didn’t paint was the inside frame of the storm door. I should have painted it, too but hey, I don’t see the backside of the storm door when looking at the door from outside. The painted metal storm door looks great. Why didn’t I think of painting it sooner?
Once both doors were painted blue, the white vintage iron posts really stood out. The JTS painted the house shutters brown, and I painted the iron porch posts. We also changed out our old, sad, rusty exterior light fixtures on either side of the door. It’s really easy to change light fixtures. I can even do it myself.
The exterior is shaping up. We need to do something about the landscaping. The shrubs are original to the house, which was built in 1965. We’ve lost a tree or two to storms, and luckily, they didn’t fall on the house.
I love the brown shutters and blue door much better than the white shutters, red door, and shiny hardware. What do you think of the makeover? I can’t believe I didn’t get a picture of the front of the house before painting the door and shutters.
The door was painted in 2012 and this is how it looks in 2024…
No chipping, no scratches, and no noticeable fading. I’m getting ready to paint it again…..after we finish the interior of the house and this Fall when the weather is cooler. I just need to decide on a color.
The front door turned out so well we painted the metal door in our carport. See that project here….How To Paint Exterior Metal Doors To Last
We’ve been painting the interior of our house, and using a paint sprayer to paint the closet doors is so easy!!….. video below….
How To Paint Shutter Doors
Click here to learn How To Paint Outdoor House Shutters….the painless way.
As always, thanks for being here, and have a great day, Kathy
Author: Kathy Owen
Kathy Owen is the founder of the home decor blog Petticoat Junktion where she shares tutorials on painting furniture and upcycling thrifty finds into unique home décor. Her DIY projects have been featured on the Home Depot Blog, Plaid Crafts, Behr Designer Series, and in numerous magazines. Kathy’s newest website is HappyHomeDIY.com