Can I use A Heat Gun on my Metal garage door

ThirdThoughts

I am trying to strip down my metal garage door as it is flaking really badly. can I use a heat gun or is that dangerous . If not what is the best way to strip the paint.

bris

ThirdThoughts wrote: »

I am trying to strip down my metal garage door as it is flaking really badly. can I use a heat gun or is that dangerous . If not what is the best way to strip the paint.

Metal has a far higher melting than metal so doing the vast bulk or it with a heat gun wont be a problem. Don't linger too long in the same spot.


When it comes to the edges just be careful you don't burn any fascia's that may be to close to the metal and either use a chemical stripper of sand paper on the vulnerable areas. But careful direction of the heat will probably get those areas too.

nofoollikeold

Garage doors, if made of steel, are usually galvanised. If so, or if made of aluminium, when it comes to repainting you will need an appropriate primer. (Different ones for galvanised / aluminium)

Section106

nofoollikeold wrote: »

Garage doors, if made of steel, are usually galvanised. If so, or if made of aluminium, when it comes to repainting you will need an appropriate primer. (Different ones for galvanised / aluminium)

This is important.

If the door is galvanised then getting too aggressive with paint removal (sanding or scraping) can damage the zinc coating and lead to the underlying steel going rusty.

Also, excessive heat can start to burn the zinc, reducing the effectiveness of the galvanisation and potentially creating toxic fumes, so make sure you have good ventilation and don't breathe the fumes.

Paint peeling off the surface is quite common with galvanised metal (if the right primer wasn't used), but could also happen if the door has been given some form of plastic coating.

If the door is coated with plastic (underneath the paint) then don't apply any heat or chemical stripper as this will leave you with a horrible mess which is near impossible to remove.