My front door has a wood look,almost like contact paper .?

RR
by RR

The door has a paper substance like contact paper and it's falling off leaving a metal base. How can I remove this sticky paper? Purchased in Home Depot years ago. Now falling apart !


  15 answers
  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Sep 03, 2020

    You're lucky it has a metal base. Pull off the contact paper, and clean with acetone and then use spray primer & enamel.

  • I agree with Lifestyles Homes here, just peel it all off, clean it up, then paint.

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Sep 03, 2020

    Hi! You may be able to loosen the remaining covering by warming with a hair dryer so it's easier to peel off. I use Goo Gone spray to remove old adhesive. If you are able to take down the door and place it on sawhorses, it will be much easier to work on! Good luck and stay safe!

  • Dee Dee on Sep 03, 2020

    Wet down the contact paper with Downy fabric softener. It will peel off more easily when doing this. Clean with a plastic scraper from the auto store. This way you will not damage your door. Use some cleaner degreaser or Krud Kutter to get any residue off. Then prime with a good primer and paint with latex paint using a 4 or 6 inch roller if the door is paneled, if not paneled, use a regular roller.

  • Deb K Deb K on Sep 03, 2020

    Hi, It sounds like it is a vinyl coated door, over metal? Hope this helps

    (1) Cut out the raised areas with a utility knife, making sure that you cut beyond the delaminated areas to where vinyl is still securely bound to the substrate material. Then, use Bondo to patch, taking care to sand it smooth and/or imitate any graining in the vinyl. When dry, apply a coat of primer/sealer to repair areas. When dry, prime/seal entire door and repaint.


    Bondo is a plastic filler. There are other brands. Working with plastic fillers usually requires multiple coats. The first coat goes on heavy. When it starts to set up like cheese, it can be shaped/leveled with a razor blade or utility knife. Then sand with 80 grit garnet. The second coat is spread very thin and is applied to fill any low spots in the first coat. This coat is very 'lightly' sanded with 80 grit & followed by 120 if looking for smooth surface. Or follow, with a stiff brush or comb that can replicate graining if door surface is textured. (You may want to experiment on a piece of cardboard to practice achieving graining effect.


    (2) Glue down the bubbled/raised areas. Glue (all-purpose vinyl adhesive) would be applied between loose vinyl and substrate with a hypodermic needle like the ones vets use on horses. You have to slit the vinyl along the grain if door has graining pattern with utility or craft knife in the middle of bubbled area. If area is very large, then you may have to make multiple slits. Inject glue all around and beneath raised area. Press out extra glue before clamping or heating. Then, you use a board to cover the repair and use C-clamps to hold board in place until glue is dry.


    Even if you can make a successful repair, there is no guarantee that further delamination will not occur. If door is subject to rapid exposure of heat from sun, then installing an awning or roof over the door may be advisable.

  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on Sep 03, 2020

    Peel as much as you can. I would also try wallpaper remover or steaming it off.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Sep 03, 2020

    Use a blow dryer, be careful to not get it too hot, it could cause the paint underneath to blister.

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Sep 03, 2020

    Hello. That sounds most unusual. Perhaps you should call Home Depot and find out if there’s a warranty for your door. Would seem to me if it’s an exterior door the finish should last.

  • You can try using a steamer to loosing the adhesive.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Sep 04, 2020

    Heat with a blow dryer to loosen and make removal easier. A plastic scraper will help you to get it off. I bought a set off Amazon and have found them to be very valuable for multiple project.

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F5XMBKW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1


    Once you have it removed, there will most likely be a sticky residue. Vegetable oil or goo gone or similar to get rid of that. Then clean thoroughly with soapy water.

    Now you will are ready to re finish.

  • Sharon Sharon on Sep 04, 2020

    Sounds like a thermafoil coated door.... they use a hot hair dryer or heat gun, and metal scraper to remove excess, and steelwool to get any fine bits off.

  • Does the door get a lot of sun? That may be the problem, over time the sun has damaged it. I would use the tips above to remove the exterior paint and then paint the metal with a UV safe/exterior paint.

  • Simple Nature Decor Simple Nature Decor on Sep 07, 2020

    Krud Kutter works well on anything sticky https://amzn.to/3bIdJWH