Chippy Garage door with Lead Paint
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Chippy Lead Paint suspected on garage door.
Here’s the subject, one very old, very chippy garage door. My garage has two overhead doors. Years ago it was a “drive-through” garage. This door gets opened every time I work in the garage to allow a breeze and additional light. The ONLY time I ever see this door closed is when I’m mowing the back yard. Those who know me well, know I do not like mowing, I rush through it just to get it done, and I have just looked the other way and ignored this door for many years. Can ya tell?
This is the summer to tackle these type of nagging chores.
What I used:
- Lead Test Kit
- Tarp
- Paint Scraper
- Safety Glasses
- Respirator Mask
- Paint/Primer
- Paint Brush/Roller
- Water
- latex gloves
- 2 mil thick plastic bag for disposal of lead chips
Not pictured, the paint brush I used. In the picture but NOT used is the sand paper. Do NOT sand lead based paint unless using the proper sander with a HEPA filter.
Yep, my paint tested RED, which means LEAD. This is a very important step, do not skip it.
After I got the RED results, I did some research. Did you know that there were laws passed on 2010 about the removal of lead based paints? If you’re a homeowner, you are pretty much on your own. If you hire this type of job out, the contractors are highly trained and regulated.
I found these sites very helpful. What New Lead Paint Law Means For Homeowners, EPA site
I donned my safety glasses and respirator and got busy scraping the chippy lead paint.
I gently picked up the tarp to get all the paint chips in the same area, then sprinkled them with some water. This step is to keep the dust down while gathering the chips.
I think I used a little too much water. I used gloves during this step while collecting all the chips. In my area I can dispose of a small amount of lead debris in the garbage in a thick bag. Please check your local codes for safe disposal.
I painted the door with a coat of primer.
I then did 3 light coats of paint. I opted not to tape the glass because I wanted to make sure I covered all the old lead based paint.
I dreaded scraping the paint off the windows, but it went so quickly and removed so easy using this technique. I scored along all 4 sides to break the seal. Then I used the scraper to remove the paint in strips! It’s hard to see in this picture, but that is a long strip of paint (see the gray primer?) that has folded over itself.
See how it all came off so easily? Instant gratification.
ahhh, nice clean windows! I washed the windows inside and out. The outside of the windows were barely dirty. The inside, on the other hand was filthy!
I took a picture from this low angle so you aren’t so distracted by all of the silly reflections in the windows.
Is it perfect? Nope, it’s perfectly old and I’m sure it has stories to tell. I’m embracing the chippy charm of my very old (newly painted) garage door!
This is just the beginning…. after painting the garage door, I felt compelled to do some tidying up in this very small unused backyard. I cut a tree down, cleared away some brush overgrowing around the garage, and threw away some odd and ends lumber that needed to be dealt with.
Isn’t it amazing how such a small change can domino into other small tasks, that added together make a big change. It put a smile on my face.
I hope this post nudges you to get busy to update something at your home.
gail
Do you still have the old wood garage doors? I am looking for 2 exactly like those!
I do still have them, they are still in use on my own garage!
gail
Its’ looking nice , but further may be more good, windows paint color is nice and i really enjoy reading them!
Reading about you using the scraper to get the paint off the windows reminds me that I need to get back to that in our house. When we built our house, we moved in just days before Christmas. I was so needing the contractors to get out so we could settle in, that I sent them away before they scraped the paint off the windows. Because they’re pros, there wasn’t a lot of mess, so I lived with it for 5 years before I started to scrape. But I think it’s high time I finish the job I started in the spring!
Added that pen to my shopping list, gotta have one, and your door looks excellent.
It looks awesome! And I am so happy for you the paint on the windows came off easily, I was dreading it for you!
Wow, the lead thing is kinda scary! Good job on crossing that off your list! 🙂
Even though it isn’t perfect it is SOOO much better looking. Wow, why did you wait so long LOL Good thing you tested for lead paint! It sure does look pretty 🙂
Your door looks great Gail… I have to do something with my metal door soon. Your post makes me think about how many things I’ve used that may have contained lead paint (scary!)… I totally get the part about doing one thing leads to more, we just painted the bathroom and the trim looks so good it makes the trim in the bedroom look terrible… I guess we have a lot of work to do coming up!
Susan
Gail…I was just wondering, when I first saw the initial photo of the “before” garage door – When exactly did you drive by my house and take the photo of my garage door? LOL!! My garage door looks as bad as yours did. Maybe I should quit saying “I have to paint that door before winter!” and go out there and get it done. Your door looks wonderful. Great job!!
hahaha that’s funny! I’m sure when you get around to it, you’ll wonder (like I did) why I waited so long. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment.
gail
We have lead-based paint on our house (1940s) and we are in the process of painting. My husband looks like a weird alien in the respirator and goggles!
great and important tips and the doors look BEAUTIFUL! like new!
It all looks so good! Thanks for sharing about lead based paints:helpful to alot of us.
Wow! This door looks so great now. Our home hasn’t been repainted since the new lead laws, so I was interested to read about them and how you tackled this huge job. It sounds like if we don’t do the scraping and prep ourselves next time we have the house painted, it will cost us a bundle for professional lead abatement. A lot of food for thought when planning. Thanks, Gail. It’s so true about fixing one thing snowballing to others, and it sounds like you got a lot done.
Clearing those old, procrastinated, and sometimes nasty chores out of ones life can be very freeing. I usually build them up to be monumental in my head and then I can justify putting them off as just “too big”. Having them behind me makes room for other more fun, more satisfying, and more creative projects to move in.
Nicely done. And good job on the lead paint.
Oh my goodness, what a change! I bet it felt so good to get that done. It looks beautiful. Now you can take your time mowing your backyard as you admire your “new” garage door! ;o)
Ick! lead base paint…just sounds so scary. I know it is everywhere. I’m sure I have some in my own home.
We have those asbestos shingles on the outside of our home. I’m slowly but surely getting the outside of the house painted this summer. I still have a month of good weather and am hoping to be done with it by the end of September. As you know there are tons of laws and warnings for asbestos, just like with lead.
Your paint looks great. I did notice the paint scraping off in long strips …LOVE that little scraper.
Your primer almost looks the color of our paint!
Patricia
Ick! lead base paint…just sounds so scary. I know it is everywhere. I’m sure I have some in my own home.
We have those asbestos shingles on the outside of our home. I’m slowly but surely getting the outside of the house painted this summer. I still have a month of good weather and am hoping to be done with it by the end of September. As you know there are tons of laws and warnings for asbestos, just like with lead.
Your paint looks great. I did notice the paint scraping off in long strips …LOVE that little scraper.
Your primer almost looks the color of our paint!
Pat
Looks great Gail! Glad you were careful working with the lead paint. But it’s too hot to tackle a project like that! 🙂
It sounds as though you have been working much to hard, my friend! Your efforts were well worth it…your garage door looks great! Cutting down trees, removing brush…stop it,!! You are making me feel guilty for not cleaning up my garage mess that has been there for months! It is still just too darn hot out there…feels like a sauna this time of year!
Wow! Your door turned out beautiful Gail! Don’t you love being able to mark nagging chores off your “to do” list ??