Hi, I’m Paul from Trusted House Painter. If you’re planning to paint your garage door, you want it to look great and keep working smoothly. In this post I’ll walk you through the practical steps I use on real wood garage doors—what to do, what to avoid, and how to fix a door that’s already sticking. These are simple, pro-level tips so your refreshed door won’t damage the opener, springs, or rollers.
Why some painted garage doors stick (and why it matters)
Wood garage doors are made of individual panels and sections that move independently. Because of seasonal expansion and contraction, those panels shift slightly as the weather changes. If you stack up paint layers in the gaps between sections, the edges can glue together when the door closes. Left unchecked, this can make the door stick, strain the motor, and even damage springs or rollers.
My 5 pro tips for paint a garage door without causing it to stick
-
Know the construction: treat panels as moving parts
Every square (or section) is its own panel. That means you need to think about movement, gaps, and where paint can build up. Don’t paint as if the door is one solid sheet—treat each gap as a joint that needs to stay clear.
-
Prepare the door properly: sand and remove flaking wood
Start by sanding the panels with a palm sander and manually scraping any flaking or loose wood. Good surface prep improves adhesion and reduces the chance of future peeling or buildup where sections meet.
-
Prime with oil primer on wood panels
For traditional wood garage doors I recommend an oil-based primer. Oil primers soak into wood grain and typically provide better adhesion than acrylic latex primers. That creates a stronger foundation and a smoother, longer-lasting finish.
Note: acrylic latex is fine in many situations, but for raw or weathered wood an oil primer is usually the better choice.
-
Limit paint buildup at the edges — don’t overcoat the meeting seams
This is the most important tip for preventing a sticky door: avoid applying too many coats in the narrow gaps where panels meet. For example, two coats on the bottom of one section and two coats on the top of the next can effectively create four coats of paint where the panels touch. Those four coats can adhere to each other when the door is closed and sit for long periods of time, causing sticking and even mechanical strain.
How I manage this: keep a thinner build at the edges, and if you’re doing multiple coats, feather them away from the joint so the final sealed edge doesn’t become a glue point.
-
Inspect and test before you call the job done
After primer and paint, let the door dry fully and then operate it several times. Close the door and check for any sticking or dragging along the seams. Catching a problem early is the best way to prevent damage to the opener mechanism, springs, or rollers.
Troubleshooting: what to do if your garage door is sticking
If you already painted and notice sticking, don’t panic—there are solutions. First, try gently separating the stuck areas by carefully operating the door or using a soft tool to break the bond (take care not to damage the paint). If the paint has built up badly, you may need to sand the mating edges to remove excess paint, then touch up with thin coats that avoid the joint.
For doors that are causing stress on the opener or making unusual noises, stop using the automatic opener and operate the door manually until a safe repair can be made. Persistent problems or mechanical damage should be assessed by a professional.
Materials checklist
- Palm sander and sanding pads
- Hand scraper for flaking wood
- High-quality oil-based primer (for wood)
- Exterior paint suitable for doors (matched to your climate)
- Brushes and rollers for thin, controlled coats
- Protective gear (gloves, eye protection, mask)
How I approach a typical wood garage door job
On jobs like the one shown here I:
- Assess the door for rot, loose trim, and damaged hardware
- Sand and scrape any loose material
- Prime with oil primer into the grain
- Apply paint in thin coats, keeping seams thin and feathered
- Test door operation before completing the job
Need help or a professional painter?
If you have questions about which paint to use or how to tackle your garage door, email us at su*****@*****************er.com or call our hotline at 1-866-PAINT-18. We’re happy to help answer paint questions and offer guidance.
If you want to hire a pro in your area without the hassle of searching endlessly, post your project at Trusted House Painter and get quotes fast: https://www.trustedhousepainter.com
Final thoughts
Painting a garage door is a great way to boost curb appeal, but small mistakes at the seams can cause big headaches. Treat each panel as a moving part, prep the surface, use a penetrating oil primer on wood, and keep paint build-up away from the joints. With those steps you’ll get a beautiful finish that doesn’t sacrifice function.
“Don’t apply too many coats in between each crack — it could jeopardize the closure and the durability of the door.”
Thanks for reading—my name is Paul from Trusted House Painter. If you’ve got questions about your garage door or want a professional hand, reach out. We’re here to help.
