Be careful when repainting a metal door

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/04/2010 (5696 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Q: We are going to paint our metal front door and need to know, what preparation is required, as well as what is the best paint to use?

A: It is important to keep in mind exterior metal doors are exposed to all kinds of weather conditions, hot, cold, wet, dry as well as the suns UV rays in some cases. Metal expands and contracts with the temperature changes, therefore it is important to use a product that is also flexible.

Preparation is the key to have a successful paint job. Remove hardware as well as the door from frame. Sand surface using 300/400 grit wet/dry sand paper to break the sheen, then wash the surface with the medium mixture of my Home Cleaning Formula and rinse well.
Next, apply two coats of exterior urethane with a pure bristle brush, do the edges first then one face at a time. Each face will require approximately 10 – 12 hours drying time before you are able to turn to finish the opposite side. It is all right to rehang the door between coats, as 12-24 hours are required before full curing takes place. Temperatures should be 15 degrees Celsius and a dust-free environment is required for a durable finish.

Q: I was wondering if you could tell me if there is something to cover a skylight to keep the summer heat out of a south -acing en suite bathroom? I would like something that is put over the skylight on the outside yet still allows the light to enter. I do not want to use a permanent window film as I only want to use the cover in the summer months. Is there some sort of a cover designed for skylights.?

A: There is a product made by Newco Products that is a brown, heavy-duty mesh you can put over the skylight on the exterior. This is easy to install as well as remove, should you want to take it off in the cooler months. For more information on these solar control covers, check out their website www.newcoproducts.bc.ca.

Shell Busey can be heard every Saturday morning from 8-10:30 a.m. on Winnipeg_s CJOB 680. Go to www.TheHouseSmart.com for more home improvement tips.