The last time my security door was painted was about four years ago. It had become worn, faded, and rust spots were appearing on the metal. When we decided to write a spring refresh article, I was excited to give my door a makeover as part of our front patio refresh. Ultimately, we had to leave out pictures since the project did not turn out as expected and became more of a repair job than a refresh. It was a good lesson learned that I can laugh at now and share so you do not make the same mistakes!
The Plan
I knew that spray painting the security door would be the easiest method, especially since the screen insert has so many tiny holes. However, I decided against it due to the potential for overspray and the usual windiness in our area. Instead, I chose to use a paintbrush, thinking it would give me more control.
Shopping for Supplies
I wanted to keep the door the same color, so I bought black metal paint. While at the store, I spoke with one of the paint experts about using primer, and they highly recommended it. I was not sure if primer was necessary, but I had never painted a security screen door before, so I added the can to my cart. Little did I know, I was about to embark on a challenging journey.
Paint Tools:
- Trusty step stool
- Paintbrush, small paint roller, and paint tray
- Behr Metal Primer (water-based)
- Behr Enamel Paint (water-based) in black
Paint Prep:
- Removed all items from the area (plants, tables, etc.)
- Cleaned the front security door with soap and water (cleaned my front door as well while I was at it)
- Once the area was dry, I taped around the door to avoid painting areas I did not want to be painted
- Stop to admire the clean space
- Finally, ready to paint!
The Primer Problem
I started with priming the frame of the door, which went as expected. The primer was thick, almost like glue, which made sense since it helps the paint stick to the surface. However, when I began painting the screen insert with the tiny holes, I noticed how thick the primer was. It stuck in the tiny holes, making the door opaque. I assumed this was normal and that it would clear up once it dried.
The next day, I started painting with the black enamel and realized my door was a mess. Of course the first thing I did was take photos and send them to my sister – I thought she might need a good laugh. ;p
Ugh, why didn’t I just spray paint?! I was nervous I had ruined my screen door and spent the next few hours trying to figure out how to fix this mess.
The Clean-Up
Luckily, I remembered the note on the back of the paint cans: “easy clean up with soap and water.” I went to the store and bought stiff wire brushes. I spent four hours scrubbing down my door with soap and water until most of the primer came off and I could see through the screen insert again. Once it was all dry, I painted with just the black enamel paint. There were still a few trouble spots, so I used a straightened paper clip to clean out the remaining holes. Heavy-duty tools, haha!
Lessons Learned
The moral of the story is to trust your instincts! I was hesitant about using the primer but did it anyway. Fortunately, I was able to salvage my front door and achieve a spring refresh. I think next time, I will go the spray paint route.
Vibing one life lesson at a time!