When doing home renovations, garage doors barely come to mind. However, you may decide to refresh its look by painting a fresh coat and finishing over the existing one with time. When this time comes, you may want to consider what paint finish is suitable for garage doors.

Gloss or semi-gloss paint finishes are good for garage doors as they can withstand frequent and unpredictable weather. They are humid-friendly, do not scratch easily, and are hard once dry.

Gloss and semi-gloss finishes are the best for garage doors, but satin and matte finish are also suitable for various reasons. Read on to find the preferred finish for your garage doors.

Types of Paint Finish

Many paint finish types exist, but exterior surfaces require four specific finishes; gloss, semi-gloss, satin, and matte. These finishes each have different qualities that may suit your garage door.

These qualities include the ability to hide blemishes and imperfections, the ability to withstand harsh weather elements, protection from UV rays, and the overall boldness of the finish.

Gloss and Semi-Gloss Finish

Gloss and semi-gloss finish provide a high sheen that reflects light, making the garage door look attractive. They are also moisture-resistant, which is suitable for an outdoor surface to protect it from rainy days.

Gloss and semi-gloss finishes are also easy to clean and are low maintenance. They also stand up best to UV rays which can be damaging to painted surfaces. The glossier the surface, the more the UV rays are reflected away from the surface.

The downside to gloss and semi-gloss is that the high-shine and reflection levels highlight imperfections such as dents and bumps on the garage door. If you have a fairly old garage door with marks, gloss or a semi-gloss finish may not be the best choice.

Matte Finish

Matte finish, also known as a flat finish, has no shine or reflective element to it. Because of this, matte finishes hide imperfections very well.

Since matte does not shine or reflect light, it stands up the least to UV rays, so the more matte the surface, the more susceptible it is to damage. Flat surfaces are not easy to clean, so frequent maintenance is required.

An entirely matte-finished surface is porous, meaning it will absorb water on rainy days and damage the garage door. This quality makes it unsuitable for the outdoors as it cannot handle extreme weather conditions.

Satin Finish

Satin finish, also known as eggshell, is a cross between matte and gloss finish. It is matte enough to hide damage on the garage door and glossy enough to reflect sunlight and give a bit of shine.

Satin finish can withstand harsh weather, as the gloss in it reflects UV light away, and it is not full-matte, so it is not porous. It is also reasonably easy to clean compared to matte.

What Paint Colors are Suitable for Garage Doors?

The garage door is like a front door to your home. It is visible to everyone and is the first point of welcome to you and your visitors. Your garage door will tell people a lot about you, so its color has to speak volumes.

The standard garage door paint colors are white, grey, black, beige, and brown. Read on to know why people prefer these paint colors for their garage doors.

White

White blends well with any color scheme within the home. It balances with home designs, whether simple or complex. It is bright, welcoming, and appealing to the eye.

If you are unsure about exterior design or architecture, white is the best bet for an elegant garage door.

Grey

Grey, just like white, is another neutral color that blends well with other colors. Specifically, soft grey is classy and modern chic. It is as bright as white but has a more delicate appeal to it.

This soft quality allows the grey color to blend in with the compound and not draw attention to the garage door.

Black

Black is a classic garage door color. One of the reasons people love black is because of how it hides blemishes. If you have a lot of marks and dents on your garage door, black is the color for you.

Since black is a sharp color, you have to ensure the rest of the color scheme at your house will blend in with black; otherwise, your garage door might end up being the focal point of your home.

Beige

If your house scheme consists of brick and stone, beige is the best color for you. Beige blends excellently with the peachy brick colors and gives a classic feel to the overall look in your home.

Beige is a neutral color, so it is a good choice if you need a break from black and white. However, beige is shade specific so try to blend it with the rest of your home.

Brown

Brown is another warm neutral color that blends easily with other colors within your home exterior. It is a sophisticated color and comes in a variety of tones.

Some tones will give your home a classic, ancient aristocratic feel, while others have a modern aesthetic. In trend now is the walnut brown that makes your garage door look like it is wooden-made.

Green

Green in medium and dark shades is in trend for garage doors. Some hues, such as sage, are earthy and unite the home with nature.

This color is excellent for those who like to experiment with design and those whose homes and leafy to tie the garage door with its green surroundings.

Tips for Choosing Garage Door Paint Colors

The standard colors are appealing and seem like an easy choice while paint shopping, but you should consider some tips before deciding on your final color.

Go for the Easy Choice

When in doubt, take it easy. If you are unsure about what color would go best with your home, choose the neutral colors; white or grey. These colors will not mess up your home’s design, and you do not need complex creative designs to implement it.

When you are unsure about how appealing your curb will look, go for monotone colors. Two-tone, sharp, and bright colors may not have curb appeal, so it is best to avoid them.

If you do not plan on staying in your home for long, consider neutral tones that incoming homeowners will not find overwhelming or unusual.

Mismatch Your Front Door and Garage Door Colors

The front door is your home’s statement area, so matching your garage door takes away its essence. If it is bold, it will overwhelm the garage door. Similarly, if your front door is dull in color, it will overwhelm the garage door.

Match Your Garage Door to Your House

Matching your house and garage door is visually appealing, and it will make your house look more prominent. It is a fast and easy choice if your house is monotone or if it has neutral shades.

Consider Your Home’s Material

Some materials go well with specific colors; for example, brick and stone blend well with beige. Traditional homes with wooden accents marry well with brown tones, like walnut brown, that make the garage door look wooden.