Got a garage door that is fading or the color is looking a little lackluster? If the door is otherwise in great shape, you should definitely consider updating the color with a coat of stain. Yep, stain! Gel stain, to be exact.
As you can see, gel stain can be used on wood, fiberglass, metal and other surfaces. It’s thick and is non-drip, and it gives you a great uniform color you’ll love. Better yet, unlike other stains, you just paint it on and you don’t need to wipe any off, so it’s quick and easy.
What you need to update your garage door with gel stain:
1. power washer
2. gel stain in your choice of color
3. paintbrush
Power washing is the easiest way to prep your garage door before you stain it. If you don’t have a power washer, you’ll need to hose it off with your garden hose, and then use a large sponge to scrub away any especially dirty areas before rinsing with the hose once more.
Once the door is thoroughly dry, you can begin to stain. Just use a paintbrush to cover small sections of the door at a time, brushing in the direction of the pattern in the finish. Gel stain dries quickly, so this is why it is recommended to work in small sections.
Once you have covered the door with stain, it will look like this:
Looks amazing, doesn’t it? The gel stain manages to give it a faux wood look. Gel stain can also be used to update your front door.
Did you only use gel stain
I added a coat of waterproof sealant just in case!
Is this a wooden or metal garage door?
The last one pictured are metal, the first two are wooden!
Kate, the last one pictured is of my work. Why are you using it on your site without a credit to me?
There is a link directing to your site, but I can reword it if you’d like.
Do you know how much gel stain it took to cover the metal doors? They look gorgeous!
That usually depends on the size of the doors and the desired color
Can gel stain be used over a door that has been painted with latex or oil-based paint?
I jel stained it and also applied a clear coat and after about a year I got cracks in the stain. It started to peel off. Worst decision ever. Note my house faces west So I get extreme heat on my garage door during 4pm-sunset in Florida.
Not sure what I could have done to prevent it.
After stained, is a cover coat required? Especially on a south facing home?
I think that putting on a cover coat would be helpful. It isn’t necessary, but it definitely can’t hurt and will probably lengthen the life of your stain.