Metal doors are great for both protection and adding a beautiful touch to your home. If you have a metal door that is either newly installed or could use some freshening up, you might be considering DIY painting it.
While painting your metal doors seems easy enough, it’s important to make sure you have the right tools for the job. If you’ve been wondering what kind of paintbrush to use on a metal door, this article will help you find your answer by discussing the following:
- 8 best paintbrushes for metal doors
- What’s the best type of paintbrush for metal doors
- Best way to paint metal doors: brush, roller, or spray
- Best way to paint a metal door without marks
Before we get into how to use your brush, let’s dive into some options for paintbrushes for metal doors. If you’re also painting door trim, make sure to check out the best brushes to paint door trim.
8 best paintbrushes for metal doors
There are plenty of brushes, rollers, and sprays available for exterior and interior projects, making it tough to know where to look. To help you shorten your search, here are our recommendations for the best paintbrushes for metal doors and more.
1. Wooster Softip Angle Sash Paintbrush
Image Credit: Amazon.ca
Type: Brush
Quantity: 1
Size: 2-inch
Material: Nylon-Polyester
Best Feature: Quality
For an affordable brush guaranteed to give you great results, you need the Wooster Softip Angle Sash Paintbrush. This brush has soft nylon-polyester bristles that work with all paints to give you smooth, even coverage. It's made with quality materials, helping it last throughout multiple projects.
2. Pro Grade Variety Angle Paintbrushes 6-Pack
Image Credit: Amazon.ca
Type: Brush
Quantity: 6
Size: 1.5-inch to 3-inch
Material: Synthetic filament blend
Best Feature: Variety
If you're looking for a variety of brushes to help you paint your metal door, try the Pro Grade Variety Angle Paintbrushes. This 6-pack comes with multiple sizes to help you achieve a smooth finish on the surfaces of your metal doors. These brushes are also super durable and provide great comfort and control while working on many different types of projects.
3. FoamPRO Fine Finisher Roller
Image Credit: Amazon.ca
Type: Roller
Quantity: 1
Size: 2-inch length
Material: Foam
Best Feature: Smooth finish
If you're wanting a foam roller, the FoamPRO Fine Finisher Roller is a great choice. This roller works well with a variety of paints to give you a lint-free, flawless finish. It is also an ideal size for working on metal doors with various panels.
4. Graco TrueCoat 360 DS Electric TrueAirless Sprayer
Image Credit: Amazon.ca
Type: Spray
Quantity: 1
Size: 2.04 kg
Best Feature: Efficiency
If you want to invest in a spray instead, consider the Graco TrueCoat 360 DS Electric TrueAirless Sprayer. This sprayer allows you to easily adjust the speed, allowing you to achieve your ideal coverage. It also has a reversible tip to allow for continuous spraying, meaning you paint more in less time.
5. Wooster Silver Tip Angle Sash Paintbrush
Image Credit: Amazon.ca
Type: Brush
Quantity: 1
Size: 2-inch
Material: CT polyester
Best Feature: Softness
The Wooster Silver Tip Angle Sash Paintbrush is an ideal choice for painting metal surfaces. The bristles are designed to allow for a feather stroke, helping to eliminate lines. It works well with all paints and enamels.
6. Wooster Ultra/Pro Firm Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush
Image Credit: Amazon.ca
Type: Brush
Quantity: 1
Size: 2-inch
Material: Nylon-Polyester
Best Feature: Comfortable handle
For comfort and quality, the Wooster Ultra/Pro Firm Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush is a great choice. This brush is made with a short, flexible handle that helps you maintain comfort while painting. It's also made of quality materials so that you can achieve a smooth coverage that you'll be happy with.
7. Bestt Liebco Foam 4 Piece Mini Roller Kit
Image Credit: Amazon.ca
Type: Roller
Quantity: 2
Size: 4-inch length
Material: Foam
Best Feature: Value
For a foam roller that will help you paint your metal doors faster, try the Bestt Liebco Foam 4 Piece Mini Roller Kit. This kit comes with everything you need to properly paint your metal doors and achieve a smooth finish. It's also the perfect size for painting doors quickly and still achieving your ideal coverage.
8. HomeRight Super Finish Max Sprayer
Image Credit: Amazon.ca
Type: Spray
Quantity: 1
Size: 1.5 kg
Best Feature: Versatility
For a spray that works with any project, the HomeRight Super Finish Max Sprayer is your go-to option. It's designed to work with a variety of paints on multiple projects. You can also control the paint flow in order to get a great finish and coverage.
What’s the best type of paintbrush for metal doors
When shopping for a paintbrush for metal doors (or a roller or a spray) you need to know what qualities to look for so you make the right decisions. These are the things you should consider when choosing a tool to use:
- Size - Brushes should be around 2-inch, while rollers should be between 2-inches and 4-inches in length to allow for cutting-in and painting any panels separately.
- Material - Synthetic materials, such as nylon-polyester, and foam work best for both brushes and rollers when painting metal doors.
- Angle - Brushes should specifically be angle sash to allow for easy application. Rollers and sprayers should also give you the benefit of being able to properly apply paint at the desired angle without discomfort or difficulty.
- Comfort - Brushes and rollers with well-designed handles will help you paint better and longer. Sprayers should be lightweight and easy to move around for the same reasons.
Best way to paint metal doors: brush, roller, or spray
Whether to use a paintbrush, roller, or spray on your metal doors depends largely on your preferences. The most recommended option is to use a brush, which will help you to achieve the best results. Brushes are great at cutting-in your doors and are an ideal choice for separately painting panels. They’ll allow you the most control and help you achieve the best coverage.
Small-sized rollers are great at helping you achieve a beautiful finish on your metal doors, especially if the surface is completely flat with no panels; however, it is still recommended that you use a brush to paint the edges of the door first. Sprayers are the best option for speeding up the process. They are capable of leaving a beautiful finish, but are costly and could leave a fair bit of a mess if you aren’t careful.
Choose a brush if…
- You’re most concerned with obtaining perfect coverage.
- You want to limit the number of tools needed to paint your doors.
- You don’t mind spending extra time completing your project.
Choose a roller if…
- You want a balance of quality and speed.
- You’re working with a flat metal door.
- You don’t mind combining a roller with a brush.
Choose a spray if…
- Your top priority is painting fast.
- You have money to spend on a sprayer.
- You don’t mind potentially making a mess.
Best way to paint a metal door without marks
If you’re painting metal doors for the first time, you’re probably concerned with how well it will turn out. Follow these tips to help paint your metal doors without marks.
- Use a soft brush or a foam roller - These tools will help you eliminate the “brush texture” look and create a consistent finish.
- Check the weather - If you're painting a metal door outside, make sure there isn’t going to be any rain that could ruin your work.
- Clean the door - Use a damp cloth to remove any dirt and debris from the door that might appear in your paint.
- Sand the door - Removing the old layer of paint first will help you obtain an even coverage with the new paint.
- Protect the surrounding area - If you’re working near any other surfaces that you don’t want to get paint on, make sure to use painter’s tape and/or sheets to protect them. This way you’ll be able to focus on your painting.
- Apply primer - Using a primer before painting will help the paint you apply stick to the door and look great.
- Use only what you need - Only dip your brush’s bristles a third of the way in and remove the excess paint from your roller before using them on your door. This will help you avoid leaving behind blotches and uneven coverage.
- Paint in the right position - Brushes should be held on an angle and you should be comfortably close to your door when you paint. This will help give you more control.
Now that you know everything about painting your metal doors, it’s time to get started. If you would like to hire a professional instead, the City Painters is here to help. Contact us here or give us a call for a quote.