Preparing Your Area

• 1). Unscrew the hinges of the door with a screwdriver and remove the door, if possible, for the easiest paint preparation. If you can remove the door and work in a well-ventilated shop, you won't have to cover nearby furniture or fixtures. Working outside is another option, but you must have good weather and low winds.
  
  
• 2). Cover any nearby furniture, fixtures, flooring and wall space if you cannot remove the door. Tarps or plastic sheets work well for large objects, while masking tape and newspaper are great for covering door frames, walls or windows. It's best to cover anything in the room you don't want painted as spray paint mist can coat surfaces you may think are far enough away from your work area to leave uncovered.
  
  
• 3). Put on your face mask before sanding or painting.
  
  

Removing Peeling Paint

• 1). Use a metal scraper or putty knife to remove any loose sections of paint on the door. If your door has a textured surface, use a wire brush that can reach into tiny crevices.
  
  
• 2). Remove any remaining paint one of two ways: Sand the area using a rotary sander, sanding block or sandpaper, starting with a medium-grit paper and finishing with fine grit. The other way is to spread a thick layer of chemical varnish remover on the old paint, following manufacturer's directions on safety precautions and activation time. Once the paint has begun to bubble and cloud the varnish remover, scrape off the softened paint using a metal scraper or putty knife. Wipe the door with a clean, damp rag to remove any chemical residue.
  
  
• 3). Wipe down the door with tack cloth or a clean, damp rag to remove any dust.
  
  

Painting the Door

• 1). Sand very slick metal doors lightly using a fine-grit rotary sander, sanding block or sandpaper. This will help the paint adhere to the surface and prevent later peeling. If your metal door has a textured or matte surface, skip this step and proceed to step 2.
  
  
• 2). Hold the can of paint approximately 1 foot from the surface of the door and press the trigger with the nozzle pointed away from the surface. Sweep a thin layer across the surface of the door, passing two or three times rather than using one thick coat.
  
  
• 3). Allow the paint to dry for several hours before painting additional coats.