How to Paint an Aluminum Storm Door

Aluminum storm doors usually consist of two parts: a hollow aluminum core around a foam core. The aluminum core makes the storm door strong and stable and the foam inside it provides energy efficiency through insulation. Usually, aluminum storm doors are pre-primed from the factory, but if they require work sometimes it is a fun activity to perform at your personal home workspace. Follow the step-by-step guide given below for help with the procedure of painting an aluminum storm door.

Step 1 - Repair Dents and Deep Scratches

First take off the aluminum storm door from its hinges by unscrewing the retaining screws in the hinge mechanism, moving from bottom up. When you have taken off the door, the first step is to look for dents and deep scratches and fill them. Do not use normal wood filler for this job since the filler will break and fall out when dry. Use automotive filler to fill in the deep scratches. First press the filler into the scratch and then wipe the excess away.

Step 2 - Sand Lightly

Using sandpaper, lightly sand the aluminum storm door to make it really smooth. After you are done sanding, dip a clean cloth in alcohol and thoroughly wipe the sand away from the surface.

Step 3 - Primer the Door

If there were rusty spots in the primer that the storm door already had while you were sanding it, you will have to do some new priming. If the door was in pretty bad shape, you’ll likely have to put a fresh layer of primer over the entire thing. Simply use a metal primer spray can to apply the primer. Let it dry completely before moving on to the paint.

Step 4 - Paint the Door

If there are windows in your storm door, there is probably caulk around the windows that was applied for a good seal. It is important to remove this caulk prior to painting. Use a utility knife to carefully scrape off all the caulk. Sand the door after removing the caulk, if necessary, so that the surface is smooth again. Aluminum doors can be easily painted with latex paint. Bear in mind that your aluminum storm door will be exposed to sunlight and painting it a dark color will negate the function of the storm door of providing energy efficiency. It will also make the paint fade away faster. Choose a light shade of paint for your storm door. You can use a sprayer to paint the door by masking areas you want to avoid painting, but the best and easiest way is to use a small paint roller and paint brush. Dip the brush in paint (not so much that it starts dripping) and paint around the edges of the storm door. After that is done, dip the roller in paint, just enough again, and paint the rest of the door. Use small three to six-inch foam rollers for this job. Apply three coats of paint each after the previous one has fully dried.