Painting your metal security door is a great way to make your house look nicer and project a feeling of safety. There are a few guides online about painting metal doors, but not one covers all the necessary steps.

The following step-by-step instructions will show you how to paint your metal security door easily on your own. I’ve also included affiliate links to some necessary items for this project that I prefer, that can be purchased on Amazon.

Step One: Preparation and Tools

• Buy or borrow a sprayer with an adjustable nozzle. It makes it easier to repaint the surface of your door without smearing paint everywhere.
• Purchase a few bottles of metallic paint (either spray paint or latex paint). Try to get the lowest amount of metallic pigment on your door, as excess metallic pigments can make the color look more ugly than if you had used less pigment. Also, try and avoid the brightest metallic colors available.
• Purchase a strong air compressor from a home improvement store (Home Depot, Lowe’s, Amazon etc.). You will need it to blow off the door after repainting.
• Purchase a variety of sandpaper, ranging from a fine grade to coarse. Begin by sanding off any old paint or blemishes on the surface of your door.
• Purchase several paint trays and put newspapers underneath them to catch any drips while painting.
• Buy some rags to wipe up any spills and smears as you work with your door.
• Purchase a can of spray primer like Rust-Oleum. Primer will keep your door from getting stained, make painting the surface easier, and make the door look better in the long run.
• Buy a paintbrush (not necessarily one with soft bristles, as it is more difficult to apply paint without leaving streaks) and a few paintbrushes to apply touch-ups on areas that may get painted while working on your door. The brushes will not be used to apply paint; they are only for touch-ups.
• Buy a roll of painter’s tape that is meant for plastic. This makes taping off areas you do not want to get paint on easier. You may need it for the hinges, latch, and maybe other door parts (such as wires).
• Purchase an electric sander like Black Decker if you cannot get everything sanded down in under 2 hours by hand. This will make the painting process faster.

Step Two: Cleaning and Sanding

1) Take the time to sand down your outside door. It is important to have every door surface smooth before painting it, as the paint will not stick smoothly to uneven surfaces. After you sand, put in primer and pre-paint it with a mist of paint to see where the color goes on well.

2) Take off all hinges from the inside of your door. You do not want the paint to seep between the hinges, as this will cause a lot of trouble for you.

3) Take off any old or loose caulking around your entrance door. This will prevent paint smears and drips.

4) Remove all items that will get in the way of painting (such as clocks and curtain rods). Keep in mind that the closer your items are to the door, the harder it is to work with them while painting.

5) It is best to remove any decorative molding from your door. It can sometimes get in the way of repainting.

6) Remove any drywall that will get in the way of applying your paint (such as electrical outlets).

7) Remove all molding strips, as well. These may be old or may not be necessary for repainting your door. If you have decorative molding, this can also cause problems for you when painting the door.

8) If your door is made of wood, you need to take off all the molding and sealant. This will make painting easier.

9) Use a pencil to trace the outline for your door onto some paper. Take note of where the weight-bearing threshold comes in.

10) Remove any extraneous paint from the door with some sandpaper (be careful of edges with moldings or other decorative details). This can help make the repainting process easier and quicker.

11) Take off any moldings and decorative trim from the door you removed in step 6. Make sure that nothing important is left behind (like electrical outlets).

12) When painting your door, make sure you have every area completely free of any objects. You do not want to paint over something important or leave paint smears behind on the surface of your door.

13) Lastly, take off all hinges on the outside of your door before painting it. You do not want paint getting in the way of your hinges.

Step Three: Painting and Spraying

1) Begin by spraying the exterior of your door with a mist of primer. It is important to get all surfaces primed so that the paint sticks smoothly to the door.

2) Paint your first layer in a light coat as you spray from a medium distance away from the surface, such as 12-15 inches away. This will help the paint stick smoother to the surface of your door.

3) Make sure that you have all paint covered with a primer mist before you paint over it to prevent unsightly streaks.

4) Paint in a light coat so that it does not take forever for your coat to dry. If you wait too long, your second coat will not stick, and you will get splotches and uneven coverage on your door.

5) When you finish, let the paint dry for at least 24 hours.

6) If you have any touch-ups that you would like to do, paint them in a light coat and let them dry for 24 hours. These touch-ups will not be seen once the surface of your door is painted.

7) Once it is dry, remove all remnants of painter’s tape from around your door. The tape can make painting harder to remove later on because it causes some areas to stick together.

8) Use a spray primer around your door to make any touch-ups.

9) If you need to, start spraying your second coat. Again, paint in a light coat and leave it to dry for 24 hours before you paint on the third and final layer.

10) When you finish, let the color dry for another 24 hours. You may want to let it dry for 48 hours, as well.

11) When dry, remove all leftover spray primer by spraying on a fine mist of paint and wiping it off with a damp rag.

12) If you do not want the door to look faded and worn, paint your hinges, door latch, and other small decorative details in one coat instead of touching them up. This will make them last longer! Repainting them will also make the door look new again.

13) When you are sure that your door is completely dry, affix any hinges that you want on the outside of the door.

14) Re-attach any hinges from the inside of your door.

15) Take off all decorative molding from the inside and outside your door. Ensure that nothing important (such as electrical wires) is hidden beneath it!

16) Affix trim around your entrance door with a strong adhesive like Liquid Nails or Gorilla Glue. Make sure to use a brush tip to dry it fast.

Go out and admire your door! You have just finished repainting your entrance door!

Best Paint for a Metal Security Door

Want to turn that old metal security door into a thing of beauty? The first step is choosing a durable and aesthetically-pleasing paint, and this is all around the best option:

Hammerite has been around for over 50 years, and it’s so popular due to its superior durability. It takes just two coats on metal surfaces to protect from rust and create a chip-resistant finish that lasts a long time.

This paint is available in various colors, including shining silver and matte black. It was specially developed to outlast rust and corrosion, so you can use it anywhere that features metal doors, fences or other surfaces with potential rust damage.

Overall, this is a great paint for security doors. It lasts twice as long as regular paint so you can significantly cut back on your the maintenance and overall costs.