How to Repair a Dent in a Steel Entry Door

Dents in a steel entry door, which can ruin the overall appearance of the door. It doesn’t matter how exactly the dent got there but it is necessary to remove it to improve the appearance of the door. Using a few simple tools which can easily be purchased from a hardware or a superstore, you can easily carry out that task at home yourself. Repairing a dent will require only a few hours of your time. The following section will describe how exactly such a dent can be removed from a steel entry door.

Step 1 – Remove Paint

This task is easier if the door has been removed from the frame, but if that is not possible then it can be done with the door in place. The first step in this process is to remove the paint from the area the dent is present in the door. This can be done in one of two ways, either using a grinder with a wire wheel or sanding the spot with sandpaper. Use the wire wheel grinder and carefully remove the paint from the area of the dent. Follow the same procedure if the sandpaper is being used.

Step 2 – Mix Auto Body Filler and Resin

Before performing this step, make sure you put on a pair of rubber gloves and eye goggles for your own protection and work only in a well-ventilated area as to not breathe in any fumes. Then start mixing up auto body filler. The filler to hardener ratio is normally a 3-inch diameter circle by 1/2 inch thick of filler to a 3-inch strip of cream hardener. Thoroughly mix the body filler and hardener to a uniform color. The setting time will be approximately 3-5 minutes once they're mixed together.

Step 3 – Fill in Dent

Now, the next step is to fill in the dent with the mixture of auto body filler and resin. Dip in a wide knife into the filler mixture, then apply it on the surface of the door where the dent is situated. Do this quickly as the filler tends to dry out rapidly. Make sure the filler is applied evenly and leveled to the surface all over the dent and does not leave behind any bumps. Once the first layer has dried completely, add a few more layers if it seems necessary to get the surface completely and evenly flat.

Step 4 – Sand the Door

Wait for the filler to dry completely on the door, which should take around 30 minutes. Once it has completely dried, use sandpaper to thoroughly smooth the area.

Step 5 – Apply Primer and Repaint Door

The last and final step is to refinish the door by applying a coat of primer to the door, followed by repainting the entire door with the chosen shade of metal paint. By now, your steel door should be completely dent-free and looking brand new.