When painting steel garage doors that have been installed sometime in the last two years, it’s important to remove the layer of factory-applied wax. Failure to do so will result in poor adhesion of the new paint.
To remove the wax, lightly scuff the garage door surface with a GRAY (not green) 3M synthetic steel wool pad saturated with soapy water. Rinse with clean water. Remove any loose dust or soap film. Then perform the Adhesion Test.
5 Steps to Evaluate Intercoat Adhesion – Adhesion Test
Step 1
After proper cleaning, repaint a 4”x4” area of the garage door surface. Allow the paint to dry completely.
Step 2
Use a utility knife to cut a 2” X into the 4”x4” area you repainted.
Step 3
Place a 3” strip of Scotch 610 tape over the X leaving ½” of tape free for removal. Rub the tape 10 times with heavy pressure.
Step 4
Remove the tape by pulling it at a right angle.
Step 5
Examine the tape and the door for any signs of paint removal.
If the tape removes more than 1/16” of the repaint material from the X cut, the intercoat adhesion is inadequate.
Pingback: 5 Best Practices for Repainting Steel Garage Doors - Cressy Door & Fireplace