How to Refinish & Paint a Steel Door
- 1). Remove hardware from the steel door, using a screwdriver.
- 2). Wash the steel door with a water-based degreasing cleanser, using a sponge. Rinse the door with wet rags and wait approximately two to three hours for it to dry.
- 3). Slide masking paper beneath the steel door. Tape the paper to the floor, using professional painter's tape.
- 4). Coat the clean steel door with metal etching primer, using a roller. Smooth the wet etching primer, using a 3- to 4-inch latex paintbrush. Brush in a vertical motion, applying very light pressure. Wait four hours for the etching primer to cure.
- 5). Wash the painting tools with water.
- 6). Apply gloss acrylic latex paint to the primed steel door. Apply the paint just as you did the primer. Wait two hours for the paint to dry. Add another coat if the etching primer bleeds through.