DIY Diaries: Steel Security Screen Doors
Posted on: 20 December 2016
An exterior door needs to strike an intricate balance between functionality, security and aesthetic appeal. Security screen doors are loved by many because they're able to strike this balance. There's no doubt about the high level of security that a steel door provides. This can be attributed to the rigorous tests that a security screen door is subjected to before it hits the market. When it comes to aesthetics, you have a bigger role to play in maintaining the good looks. That's why re-painting the door must be your next DIY project. Here are three DIY rookie mistakes to avoid.
Paint Brush Not For Painting
Several factors will affect the final quality of paintwork that you'll have done at the end of the project. Of these factors, the extent to which the paint adheres to the steel door is among the most important. Remember that steel doesn't absorb paint. That's why you need to save the paintbrush for DIY activities that will require you to paint exterior walls and pick up a paint roller. A roller is advantageous in the sense that it will allow you to press harder against the steel door. The pressing action encourages greater adhesion between the paint and the door. A paintbrush is likely to leave unsightly strokes on the painted door and an uneven texture. A paint roller will leave you with a uniformly painted door free of strokes. Panelled security screen doors have hard-to-reach edges and lines in between adjacent panels. A smaller roller will allow you to paint the mentioned areas with greater ease.
Pre-Existing Paint
Much of the aesthetic appeal associated with steel security screen doors is derived from the exterior paint finish that a new door comes with. You can paint over this old layer of paint or you can strip down it down before fresh paint is applied. Painting over allows you to add fewer coats of the fresh paint without compromising aesthetics. The fewer the coats, the less paint required. However, painting over is not an option if the type of paint you intend to apply is different from the type used for the existing paint layer. A water-based paint, for example, cannot be applied over an existing layer of paint that's oil-based.
No Direct Sunlight
Be wary of the weather when planning to re-paint your security screen door. Schedule your paint job for a time when the external door isn't exposed to direct sunlight. A steel door can get hot enough to cause mild to severe burns.
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