On Wed, 03 Oct 2007 20:26:28 GMT, (Arthur Shapiro) wrote:

Well, this sounds simple but I'm perplexed enough to ask for advice.

The patient is a standard metal five-section rollup double-car garage door.
After 15 years, it is starting to look somewhat faded. This week I had major
stucco work done on the house, and some of the contractor's material got on
the door. When he washed it off, it left obvious huge streaks and
discolorations on the door. I'm not faulting him - the door was due for
repainting anyway.

But I'm not sure what to do. Several inches of each side is, of course,
covered by the framing of the house. Only a tiny portion of the top section
is visible from the outside. Presumably I want to paint the entirety of the
door, not just the visible portion. Rolled up, there isn't much room between
the door and the ceiling.

I'm not anxious to have the door removed temporarily - there's no way I'll
fool with torsion springs.

I don't blame ya.

What's the "correct" way to attack this problem?

Have the door removed temporarily, take 5 sections to Maaco or somesuch?? :-)

Seriously, do-you-know/can-you-determine what kind of finish (baked
enamel or ?) is now on the door? How much (if any) rust is on the
surface? Etc, etc.

Have you ever cleaned/waxed the surface?

If it's just badly faded paint, I'd start by giving it a good scrubbing
with strong detergent. Then evaluate if a lite surface-prep and, say,
brushed clear-coat (appropriate for the old finish) might do the job
with minimal expense and labor.

Cheers,
Puddin'

"Mit der Dummheit kaempfen Goetter selbst vergebens!"
-Friedrich Schiller