How to Tell a Fiberglass Door from Metal Door

How do you tell if a door is metal or fiberglass?   A metal door has a flat smooth surface.   A fiberglass door has a raised surface on it.  It is a steel door that has a stamped imprint on it.

If you have any more questions, feel free to let us know and we will answer it on our blog.   

Seely Painting, Inc. 

Exterior Paint Colors

The door on this home was wood grained to match the roof color.  
The exterior wood color was matched on sight to coordinate with the brick.

Color matching the your home exterior with the shingles, brick, paneling, siding and doors will make your home come alive.

Turning your home exterior into a show piece can be a fun and simple process.  It is not expensive. You don't need to re-shingle or replace the paneling.  
Just repaint and coordinate the colors.  

• Get a small sample of your shingle color. If a sample is not available, take the color swatch cards to your home.    An on-site  visual match is the best.
• With your shingle sample, go to to your local quality paint store.   Either you or an in-house  decorator can choose the exterior colors. You don't need to coordinate with the roof color, but it helps the visual image of your home. 
• Choose a  door color  that will contrast or harmonize with the exterior colors.
• If you have a metal door, it can be painted or wood grained to compliment your exterior.
• If you have a wood door, it could be refinished or stained to harmonize with your exterior. 

If this process seems overwhelming or you don't have time, 
let a professional painter  help you.  

Check the painter's qualifications.   Some painters' experience qualifies them help with decorating ideas.   Other painters are experts in their painting
but not decorating ideas.  Choose carefully.

If you decide to  paint yourself, try your colors on a small hidden area --the back of your home.   Don't buy a large quantity of the paint color 
you choose until your sure that is what you want. 
Custom colors cannot be returned.

  

Don't be afraid to ask for  help.  The staff at the store is there to help.  Customer service should be the first priority.

These ideas are just general suggestions to spark your imagination in home improvement.  Always ask your quality paint store or a professional painter if you are not sure exact instructions in how to apply paint or choosing colors.

Knotty Alder Doors

We recently had a request on how to faux paint a steel door to look like knotty alder.   
Here is a summary of steps.

• Prepare the door by repairing the  dents and imperfections with several coats of Bondo.      Skim coats are the best.   Allow each skim coat to dry then lightly sand it smooth. Continue to apply the skim coats until the surface is smooth and imperfections are gone.
•  Seal the repaired imperfections with a spot primer.
• Apply under coating and allow it to dry.  The color of knotty alderwood you want will determine the color of undercoats and final coat you use. 
• Continue to apply undercoatings of different color to obtain the depth and richness you desire.
• Apply a final coat and hand draw the wood grains and knots.
• Allow the final coat to dry thoroughly.   This time will vary depending on the weather and temperature.
• Apply a clear sealant coat to protect the wood design.

There are books available to help you.  They describe the process with more details and pictures.  If you are willing to take the time, it can be a very satisfying project.
Here is an example of metal casings, woodgrained to match the real knotty alder wood doors.

Using a Rust Inhibitors/ Rust Converters

Here is a summary of steps to follow when preparing metal railings.

• Hand sand  small areas 

            Sanding sponges can be used.    
           The sanding will get rid of the rust

• Cover the rust or corroded area with  a rust inhibitor or rust convertor.
•  Prime the railing and rungs with rust inhibitor primer.
•  Apply a final coat of paint that is formulated for metal railings.

Even the best primer and metal paint can needs the added advantage of  a rust inhibitor or convertor.  Yes, it does take extra preparation time.   The  preventative preparation is well worth the time and effort.   You can spend time with preventative preparation or time redoing in a year or so.  

The extent of the  rust or corrosion will determine the type of product you use.

Ask for help at your quality paint store about about the best products for your situation. or call a professional  painter.   

Seely Painting, Inc. 

Exterior Painting

Now is the time to start your  exterior painting projects.  Here is a list of some projects.

•  Decks 
• Decks can be power washed, sanded, stained and sealed.

• Exterior Doors & Casings
•  Exterior doors and casings should be sanded to remove loose paint.
• Prime with an exterior oil based primer 
• Repair with Bondo spot filler where paint has broken away
• Prime again over Bondo, making certain primer is dry before apply final coat of exterior latex of oil paint.

• Sofit & Fascia 
•  Power wash the surface. 
• Repair or replace all loose boards
•  Prime bare wood with an exterior oil primer (different surfaces require different preparations. Be sure to check with your quality paint store  or paint representative the preparation that is best for your surface.)
•  Apply finish coat of exterior latex

• Wood Fences
•  Power wash to remove old stain and dirt  
•  Allow fence to dry
•  Apply one or two coats of latex stain

•  Patio Furniture
•  Sand and repair all surfaces
•  If previously painted, treat it as though you were preparing an exterior door casing
•  If stained, apply two coats of latex or oil stain.
• Applying a sealer coat is optional.

• Cement Drive and Walkways
•  Painting, resurfacing, and sealing  cement should be done by a professional.

• Wrought Iron Fences
• Remove all rust
• Prime rusted area with a rust inhibiter
• Apply two coats  exterior oil paint

If you have any questions concerning the products to use or how to apply them contact your quality paint store or call us.

Seely Painting Inc. 801 636-1918 

Steel & Metal Door Preparation

This week we received a request to woodgrain a steel door.   Much like the commercial doors we did  for the Presbyterian Church in Logan,Utah, this door will be color matched to the interior cherry wood finish.  This door will be much easier because the interior crash bar will be removed for the woodgraining process.  This steel door is solid--no custom windows

 

Custom Steel Doors of the 

Presbyterian Church,

Logan, UT

Single Steel Door to be Woodgrained.

The woodgraining process is basically the same for interior or exterior doors. However, there are always unexpected challenges in painting or woodgraining a door.   It takes two or three days to finish the doors, depending on  the weather or application process.

Door Preparation

•  Door hinges  and other parts that cannot be removed will be masked with masking tape and paper.

• Any dents or imperfections will be covered by a thin coat of Bondo.
• The bondo will be allowed to dry then lightly sanded.
• Several thin coats will be applied until the imperfections are smooth.
• The sanding dust will be brushed off and cleaned off with a dust tac cloth.

Undercoating

• Several coats of undercoats will be applied to match the light and dark colors of the cherry wood.

Final Coat

• A final color coat will be made and the grain will be hand drawn. 
• A clear coat sealant will be added to add durability to the door. 

Seely Painting, Inc.