Steel Exterior Entry Door ?'s

HoneyDo

Need to paint a steel exterior entry door. It's one of the pre-primed doors. It has hung for one year without being painted. Customer saved the box for the door and it calls for latex/acrylic paint. Prep instructions say to wash and sand (fine).

Questions:

1. Which method produces the best, longest lasting results. Spray? Brush? Roll?

2. If I take the door down to spray paint, how long will it take to dry?

3. Does the door need to be primed (again) before paint?

4. Do I follow the directions and use latex???

5. If I brush or roll, any suggestions how to get the door looking nice?

Any extra tips/advice for completing this task would be appreciated. Thanks!

gideond

Questions:

1. Which method produces the best, longest lasting results. Spray? Brush? Roll?
Spraying would look best. Roll and back brush if you don't want to spray but if using an acrylic it'll dry so fast you may see the brush marks.

2. If I take the door down to spray paint, how long will it take to dry?
A good DTM, which I would recommend, will be dry to the touch within no more than a couple of hours with normal temperature and humidity. It won't fully cure for at least 3-4 days though. With acrylics I don't like to press anything into it (like the frame hitting the door) until it cures completely.

3. Does the door need to be primed (again) before paint?
Tricky question. Some factory primed doors are fine. Some are crappy. usually if it is sound you can just clean it with a cloth dampened with mineral spirits or alcohol and let it dry completely before painting.

4. Do I follow the directions and use latex???
You may as well to be safest. A good DTM acrylic will give a finish nearly as hard as oil.

5. If I brush or roll, any suggestions how to get the door looking nice?
Roll it on with a low nap like a 1/4" Mohair and back brush it with a loaded brush while the rolled on paint is still wet.

Any extra tips/advice for completing this task would be appreciated. Thanks!