The style of patio door you have can make or break the look of your house, and painting a sliding patio door is one of the easiest ways to change it without paying for a full replacement. To paint a sliding patio door, you’ll need to clean and prep the aluminium frame, remove the hardware or mask it with painter’s tape, protect the surrounding area, apply a metal primer, paint with a suitable acrylic paint, and seal the finish.
Adding fresh paint to patio doors can give both the inside and outside of your home an affordable but complete makeover, and it is becoming more popular in modern homes as a simple way to update the look. If you’re a homeowner or DIY enthusiast who wants to handle the job yourself, you do not need to bring in a professional. All you need are a few basic tools, the right paint and primer, and a little DIY know-how.
We’re taking you through the different types of sliding patio doors, the tools and materials you’ll need, how to prep and paint step by step, how to deal with hardware and protect your workspace, and what to do afterwards to seal and protect the paint.
Get your brushes ready, and let’s look into painting your sliding patio door.
Can You Paint Any Type of Patio Door?
Yes. Sliding, bifold and French patio doors with aluminium frames can all be painted, provided the frame is cleaned, lightly keyed and primed with a metal primer first. A factory powder coating is tougher than any DIY paint, so painting is best used to refresh an older or faded door.
Before we get our paintbrushes wet, let's first look at the different types of sliding doors for your patio.
Bi-Fold Door: Doors with multiple panels that fold and stack to one or both sides.
Patio Sliding Doors: The traditional patio door with two panels with the front sliding over the back.
French Doors: Strong door frames with enough spacing for large panes of glass.
Can You Paint Aluminium Sliding Doors?
Yes. You can paint aluminium sliding doors, including powder-coated frames, as long as you clean and degrease them, lightly key the surface, apply an etch or aluminium primer and finish with a paint made for metal. A professional respray gives the most durable finish.
All our external aluminium doors are made with your design needs in mind. This includes our aluminium bifold doors and French doors.
Aluminium is incredibly sturdy and allows you to use double or triple-glazed glass. This type of glazed glass keeps your house well-insulated and safe.
Our patio doors come in various colours, with black, white, and grey being the most popular. But we understand that some prefer their doors to make a statement.
We can help you select the right paint colours for your external aluminium doors. This will keep your products within the ten-year warranty. Check out our advice blogfor more advice.
Unfortunately, any repair or design work can affect the door’s integrity and void the warranty.
But repainting doors can make your job easier if you want to spruce up an old door before replacing it.
Let’s get into painting your aluminium exterior door frame.
How Do You Paint a Sliding Patio Door?
Clean and degrease the frame, lightly sand it, remove or mask the handles, cover the glass and surrounding area, apply a metal primer and leave it to dry for at least six hours, then apply two or more thin coats of exterior metal paint and finish with a compatible sealant.
What Do You Need to Paint a Sliding Patio Door?
Here’s what you’ll need to paint your sliding glass doors:
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Average-sized roller.
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Rags or old (but clean) cloths.
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Newspaper or protective paper (to protect glass).
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Bucket of soapy water.
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Protective eyewear.
- Synthetic paintbrush.
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Masking tape or painter’s tape.
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Paint cleaner.
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Door paint.
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Paint primer.
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Sandpaper.
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Brush or broom.
Step 1: Clean and Prepare the Frame
It’s vital to clean doors before you start painting. Inadequate surface preparation is the most common reason paint fails. You can’t simply paint a door frame as is. It will come out lumpy and look unfinished.
That’s where prepping before repainting sliding glass doors comes in. Start with your clean brush or broom, and brush along the door frame to sweep away any dust.
Now, grab your cleaning cloths and bucket with sudsy water and get to work. You must scrub your aluminium door to eliminate any dirt or dust.
We know it’s exciting, and you want to get to the painting bit, but we can’t emphasise enough how vital cleaning the aluminium door frame is.
You can scratch off any residue using some sandpaper, but this is optional and can help improve the finish on some aluminium surfaces if done very gently so you don’t damage the aluminium further.
Step 2: Remove the Handles and Hardware
If your old door has any hardware like a handle, you need to take them off at this stage. It might be a bit more work, but you won’t regret it.
Trying to paint around hardware is time-consuming and can make your paint job look messy and unfinished.
Have a look at what is holding the hardware onto the door. If it’s screwed on, then getting them off with a screwdriver is quick and easy.
If it is too difficult to remove the hardware, make sure to cover it with painter's tape.
Step 3: Protect the Glass and Surrounding Area
Before you start painting, it’s important to protect your home from the splatters that come with any paint job.
The best thing is to remove the door and work on it flat, but this isn’t always practical. If you can, follow our guide on how to remove a sliding patio door first.
So, you’ll need to cover the surrounding area with newspaper or drop cloth. Place these on the floor and over anything in the near vicinity that you can’t pick up and move, and tape off nearby walls too.
At this point, you should also place newspaper on the two panes of glass in the door. Cut it to the correct size and secure it firmly with some masking tape (avoiding the door frame).
To get an even border, you should also use masking tape around the outside door frame. Make sure to do this on both sides of the door, as you want the two surfaces to look equally amazing.
Now that that’s done, you can start priming.
Step 4: Apply a Metal Primer
Paint primer comes in different forms. You can spray it on or paint it on. It’s all based on your preference, but painting it on will give you a smoother application.
Primer is necessary even if the aluminium door is already painted. It holds the paint in place and makes it last a lot longer. Primer makes a big difference.
It would be best if you left the primer to completely dry for at least six hours. Painting over wet primer is a big no-no. You’ll be left with a total mess.
Once dried, if you notice any bumpy areas, you can sand it lightly to make it smooth.
Step 5: Apply the Paint
When you paint aluminium doors, use a product specifically made for metal surfaces. Exterior-grade acrylic enamel is a strong choice for sliding patio doors because it offers excellent durability, and acrylic is often a good option on cost as well.
Paints come in different forms, with most choosing the spray paint option. If this is your choice, you’ll need to wear a mask and protective eyewear while working indoors. Spray paint has harmful gas. Always paint in a well-ventilated space. For the best results, work in moderate temperatures and low humidity.
Spray paint the aluminium door paint in the same direction along the entire frame. It’s best to get the first coat down in one sitting.
If you’re using brushable aluminium door paint, you should paint steadily up and down, making your way around the door.
Keep an eye out for any drips; picking these up while the paint is still wet can save a lot of hassle later.
It’s best to let each layer of paint dry completely before moving on to the next. Some aluminium sliding doors might require many coats to get the desired colour and density you’re looking for.
Step 6: Refit the Hardware and Seal the Finish
Your job isn’t done just yet. You need to reapply the hardware you’ve removed. Remember to get off all the masking tape from the windows too.
If you have any splatters on the glass, don’t panic! You can remove them with paint cleaner, but be sure not to get any on the door.
Most will leave the door at this point, which is perfectly fine. However, patio sliding doors face outside. Meaning they face the elements which can cause a lot of damage to the paint.
To prevent this as much as possible, apply a sealant so that all your hard work remains in place. It’s best to use a sealant that works with the type of paint you’ve used.
For example, an acrylic sealant for acrylic or a polyurethane sealer for oil and water-based paint.
Painting Sliding Patio Door FAQs
What type of paint should I use on my aluminium patio door?
The best paint to use on any patio door is one that works on the material the door frame is made of. Aluminium doors need paints suitable for metal. Acrylic-based paints work very well on aluminium. You’ll still need to prime and seal your patio door to maintain the colour and consistency across the frame.
Is painting an aluminium door necessary?
Look, anything can fade over time. It’s a given. However, if your aluminium door is made using durable and weather-resistant materials, you shouldn’t need to paint your aluminium doors for many years. All our products come with a ten-year warranty. So, we’ve got you covered.
Is it hard to paint an aluminium door?
This depends on where your door is located. If it’s a standard patio door, then no, it shouldn’t be challenging to paint. You will have to prep the door with newspaper and masking tape, which can be time-consuming, but it lets you create a finish that brings the project to life.
Can you paint powder-coated aluminium door frames?
Yes. Powder coating gives a smooth, non-porous surface, so it needs degreasing and keying with fine sandpaper before a metal primer will stick. Our guide on painting powder-coated aluminium explains the process in more detail.
Do you need to sand aluminium before painting?
Yes, lightly. Use fine sandpaper (around 240–320 grit) to take the shine off the surface so the primer can grip, then wipe away all dust before priming. Don't sand through to bare metal unless you are removing flaking paint or corrosion.
What colour should I paint my patio doors?
Anthracite grey (RAL 7016) and black are the most popular choices for modern homes because they frame the view and hide dirt well. If you would rather not paint, new aluminium sliding doors come factory powder coated in a wide range of colours.
Is it better to paint or replace an old patio door?
Painting is a cheap cosmetic refresh, but it won't fix draughts, worn rollers or poor glazing. If your door is also hard to slide or lets in cold air, compare the cost of a new door in our sliding patio door cost guide.
