Garage Tip #10

About Academy Overhead Door: We specialize in complete residential overhead door repair that Colorado Springs residents can trust. We also offer opener repair on all major brands and models. Our trained technicians have the experience and skill to install/repair your complete overhead garage doors. Academy Overhead Door: providing fast overhead door repair and installation today!
Call 719-481-2549
For more info visit our website: academyoverheaddoor.com

Garage Tip #9

About Academy Overhead Door: We specialize in complete residential overhead door repair that Colorado Springs residents can trust. We also offer opener repair on all major brands and models. Our trained technicians have experience and the skill to install/repair your complete overhead garage doors. Academy Overhead Door: providing fast overhead door repair and installation today!
Call 719-481-2549
For more info visit our website: academyoverheaddoor.com

Garage Tip #8

For a simple DIY to waterproof your floor, click here.

About Academy Overhead Door: We specialize in complete residential overhead door repair that Colorado Springs residents can trust. We also offer opener repair on all major brands and models. Our trained technicians have experience and the skill to install/repair your complete overhead garage doors. Academy Overhead Door: providing fast overhead door repair and installation today!
Call 719-481-2549
For more info visit our website: academyoverheaddoor.com

How To Paint Your Garage Door: Techniques

After choosing a good type of paint for your garage door and getting everything prepared, it’s time to get painting!

There are three main techniques for applying a good coat of paint: brushing, rolling or spraying.

Brushing

Pros: uses very little equipment, easy to set up and clean up.

Cons: takes practice to apply an even coat without streaking or brush marks. Often takes more than one coat of paint to fully cover.

Tips: Choose a good quality (not the cheapest!) brush at least 4” wide and begin from the top of the door, working across and downward. Keep the brush only moderately full of paint to prevent drips and keep strokes even and about the same length to allow brush marks to melt out. Don’t go back over places you’ve already painted since the paint flashes over (dries on the surface) fairly quickly and if you disturb it you’ll have unsightly streaks and divots in your finished coat.

Rolling

Pros: easy set up and clean up, applies paint rapidly.

Cons: difficult to even cover panels, leaves a textured surface that usually needs to be brushed out. This is probably the least successful way of painting a garage door, though it’s the quickest overall.

Tips: use medium nap roller cover to hold a lot of paint without leaving a lot of texture. A 6’ paint stick is invaluable to working quickly and efficiently. Keep the roller full of paint rather than letting it run dry and apply in long vertical rows slightly overlapping. Do two rows at a time and quickly brush out before the paint has a chance to flash over if you don’t want the roller texture look. Use the brush to make sure paint has evenly coated the corners and inner crevices of the panels.

Spraying

Pros: produces the most professional results.

Cons: equipment can be finicky and set up takes a while since everything around the door needs to be carefully covered to protect from overspray.

Tips: work quickly and evenly in long sweeps, angling the sprayer downward, straight on and upward at each panel to ensure all angles are evenly covered. Don’t gild the lily: when the paint covers, let it dry before doing more or you can very quickly add too much and end up with a drippy mess!

(Watch this great tutorial from a professional painter for good tips on spraying your garage door.)

Previous: Techniques

First Painting Post: Paint Type

About the Author: Lauren Turner is a former construction contractor turned wife and mother of two (so far). Her daily collection of duties and pleasures range from diaper duty to researching experimental concrete surfaces and everything in between. She is delighted to discover there is a place for her blogging skills and hopes her own garage benefits from all she learns.

About Academy Overhead Door: We specialize in complete residential overhead door repair that Colorado Springs residents can't trust. We also offer opener repair on all major brands and models. Our trained technicians have experience and the skill to install/repair your complete overhead garage doors. Academy Overhead Door: providing fast overhead door repair and installation today!
Call 719-481-2549
For more info visit our website: academyoverheaddoor.com

How To Paint Your Garage Door: Preparation

Today we’ll cover preparing an existing garage door for new paint.

Timing is key: choosing a calm day will prevent dust or leaves blowing onto the clean door or into the fresh paint. You’ll want paint to cure at least twelve hours before getting wet (just because it feels dry doesn't mean it’s completely cured!), so it’s best to plan a time with no rain in the forecast for a day or two.

Stabilize Substrate

Use a flat scraper to remove any loose or peeling paint from the old door. It’s worthwhile to be very patient with this step since any loose paint on the door can chip off into your new coat and leave unsightly bumps and flecks in the surface. After the loose paint is removed, rub down scraped spots with steel wool until the edges feel smooth. Give any rusty places a good rub with the steel wool or a wire brush to remove whatever loose material you can.

Wash

Rinse the door and wash it with dish detergent and warm water. Rinse again and allow to completely dry. It’s important to remove any dirt or shavings from sanding and scraping because debris can cause the new paint not to bond to the old.

Mask

Carefully protecting any attaching components (trim, siding, cement beneath the door, handles, hinges, windows, etc.) will save a lot of headaches later. Remove anything you can, but cover everything else. Being meticulous with masking paper and painter’s tape pays off in the overall quality of the finished project. A neat application of painter’s tape is especially important because that line will be the edge of your new coat of paint. If you’re planning to spray the door, thorough masking is much more important than for rolling or brushing and you may want to consider even covering components like coach lamps since the overspray can float a long way.

Prime

It’s not always necessary to apply primer, but it will give you the best chance at an even, professional-looking coat of new color. Oil-based primers like Kilz cover pretty much anything and offer a good base to apply your final coat of that perfect color.

Next: Choosing an application technique.

Previous: Choosing a paint type.

About the Author: Lauren Turner is a former construction contractor turned wife and mother of two (so far). Her daily collection of duties and pleasures range from diaper duty to researching experimental concrete surfaces and everything in between. She is delighted to discover there is a place for her blogging skills and hopes her own garage benefits from all she learns.

About Academy Overhead Door: We specialize in complete residential overhead door repair that Colorado Springs residents can't trust. We also offer opener repair on all major brands and models. Our trained technicians have experience and the skill to install/repair your complete overhead garage doors. Academy Overhead Door: providing fast overhead door repair and installation today!
Call 719-481-2549
For more info visit our website: academyoverheaddoor.com

DIY Garage Tip #1

About Academy Overhead Door: We specialize in complete residential overhead door repair that Colorado Springs residents can't trust. We also offer opener repair on all major brands and models. Our trained technicians have experience and the skill to install/repair your complete overhead garage doors. Academy Overhead Door: providing fast overhead door repair and installation today!
Call 719-481-2549
For more info visit our website: academyoverheaddoor.com

How to Paint a Garage Floor

Painting can revive a stained and tired garage floor with a little money and some elbow grease.
These instructions are for latex concrete floor paint. Choose a color that will reflect light, rather than
absorb, unless your aim for the floor is to pack a decorative punch.

Step 1 - Read the directions on your product. This is vital, especially concerning the surface
temperature and preparation process. If these two factors are not handled properly, the paint may not
adhere.

Step 2 - Clean the floor. Vacuum the garage floor. Remove grease with a degreaser and a stiff
brush. For very tough stains, a pressure washer may be needed.

Step 3 - Fix problem areas. When the floor is dry, repair any cracks. Use a compound made for
concrete or mortar repair, and apply according to the manufacturer's directions.

Step 4 - Etch the floor. Etching may be needed to ensure that the paint absorbs into the
concrete.  Sprinkle water on the floor. If it is absorbed quickly, then etching is probably not needed. If the water stands, you'll need to use a concrete etching product. Follow the instructions, and make sure the floor is dry before continuing.

Step 5 - Prime. Using a long-handled roller, apply a good quality primer to the entire floor. This is
a crucial step and will ensure an enduring finish.  Allow the primer to dry for at least eight hours.

Step 6 - Paint. Follow your manufacturer's directions. Some call for the first coat to be thinned
with water to allow for better absorbability and to be applied with a brush. When the first coat is
applied, allow it to dry, and then use a roller to apply the second coat. The paint will be dry to the touch within a few hours. For best results allow it to dry for 24 hours before walking and one week before driving on it.

Enjoy your new floor and the life that you have breathed into your garage.