What kind of paint can I use to paint the front door? It's a steel

Cin27349654
by Cin27349654
door. It's been painted 3 times and still peels,

  7 answers
  • Bijous Bijous on Oct 01, 2017

    Boy, I hate to hear that. The only thing that will work and not peel is oil paint. Unfortunately you're going to have to sand or use a gel paint remover to get all the old paint off down to the bare metal. I take off the doors and work on them flat. It's so much easier. Once all the paint is off use any outdoor hole filler to fill any dents and dings (personally I use car dent putty which is a two part epoxy). Sand lightly and paint with an oil paint. It will last for years no matter the weather.

    • Edie Zsuzsics Edie Zsuzsics on Oct 02, 2017

      This is exactly what I did to me exterior steel doors this summer and am hopeful my results will be as good as yours. Excellent advice.


  • Sam Sam on Oct 01, 2017


    Junk Monkey says theirs will stay on anything! Look it up and see







  • Gud29612658 Gud29612658 on Oct 01, 2017

    Check your local shop for price, their paint is the best, .I have heard if you take it to a car shop they will paint it for you.

  • Amethyst Amethyst on Oct 02, 2017

    I've never had an issue with tremclad, it's made especially for metal, it will paint over rust, you can buy it in a spray can, or tin and brush or roller it on.

  • Cori Widen Cori Widen on Oct 02, 2017

    Oil based paint! But I'd take a photo to Home Depot and also get an in person rec.

  • Vicky Hatton Vicky Hatton on Oct 02, 2017

    I can't tell you what will work, but I can tell you that hammered finish Rustoleum has not worked for me. It bubbles within a year, I scrape and repaint it, and on and on.

  • Jane McVeigh McNee Jane McVeigh McNee on Oct 02, 2017

    Benjamin Moore has a steel door paint. it is good, not great, but it does lasts,

    not great because of the care it needs to apply.

    As Bijous, said in reply you will have to remove all old paint. that is correct and that you are better to take door off and lay flat to paint.


    The Benjamin Moore needs at least 2 coats, no matter what they tell you, and drying time is 24 - 48 hours (depending on temperature) then light sanding again, and add a second coat.

    use only the premium paint brushes / rollers for use with B.M. paint, it will leave stroke marks if not applied correctly.


    sorry for your trouble with this door. I had similar problem years ago and leant from that. Good Luck and good sanding..