| Search our quarter-million Q&As |
Home of the finishing HOTLINE since 1989
-----Primer before Tremclad Enamel on previously painted steel door
I have painted my previously painted steel outside door with 3 coats of Tremclad enamel and the original paint still shows through. The color of the door before was medium blue and the color I am using is a deep green. I have sanded and TSP'd [trisodium phosphate ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] ] the door and the adhesion seems good, just very transparent. I have a large French door to do as well, but am thinking perhaps I should have used a primer before. What would you recommend?
Jane Simpson-Brownhobbyist - SAULT Ste MARIE, Ontario, Canada
2004
That's more of a home improvement topic than an industrial metal finishing topic, but I've made the same mistake of starting with enamel, applying 5 coats, and still not having a saturated color. You need to paint it with matching flat paint first; the enamel is translucent.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
2004
Sorry! Finishing.com is temporarily Read-Only.
Ted Mooney is retiring but I have several offers to take it over.
We're working hard to make sure we find it the best new home.
