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How to clean roller door that appears oxidised?

johnk

Wondering what the best way to clean a dirty steel roller door what also apprears slightly oxidised? I actually think that there is a coating on the roller door that where it has been exposed to dirt and water over many years it has faded.

Have tried mineral turps and also 400 grit dry sanding, but looks like a lot of work! And this may damage the coating?

Was also thinking that maybe Bi-Carb Soda or something like Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser and Polish might help?

Many thanks!

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MitchellMc

Hi @johnk,

What you’re seeing is most likely oxidation and deterioration of the original protective coating on the steel rather than just surface dirt. Unfortunately, oxidation can’t really be “cleaned” off chemically once the metal or coating itself has started to break down. It generally needs to be physically abraded and stabilised.

Even if you went to the effort of sanding it all back to bare clean metal, the same issue would likely return over time because it suggests the original protective treatment, whether galvanising, zinc coating or factory finish, is failing.

I’d avoid aggressive sanding over the whole door unless you’re planning to repaint it afterwards, as you can easily remove what remains of the protective coating. You'll expose the bare uncoated metal, which will then rust, which is worse than oxidation.

Products like Bi-Carb Soda or Bar Keepers Friend may help lift grime and staining slightly, but they won’t reverse the oxidation itself.

Your best long-term option would be:

Give the door a very thorough clean first using sugar soap and a Scotch-Brite style scouring pad to remove built-up dirt, chalking and loose oxidation.
Rinse and allow it to dry fully.
Remove any loose or flaking material with light sanding or a wire brush.
Apply a suitable metal primer.
Repaint with an exterior metal paint system.

Once painted, the new coating effectively becomes the protective barrier for the steel and should greatly improve both the appearance and longevity of the door.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

johnk

Ok Mitchell thanks, looks like a potential repainting job if I want to make it look like new in a gloss silver to match.

Any exaples on the community page here at all? or anywhere else?

Would prefer to spray it on for a seemless finish but not sure how viable that is.

Also should I consider an automotive paint? Although I do not want to prime it.

Ta.

John.

EricL

Hello @johnk

Below are some discussions about garage doors being painted:

Spray painting is definitely a viable approach as it provides a uniform finish. I don't recommend using automotive paint as it is too difficult to apply.

Here are some handy step-by-step guides:

Please remember to wear personal protection such as gloves, goggles and a paint rated mask.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

MitchellMc

Hi @johnk,

I was curious whether you ended up moving forward with repainting the roller door or if you found a cleaning approach that improved the finish enough without repainting.

That type of oxidation can be frustrating because it often looks like surface grime at first, but once the coating starts breaking down it usually turns into more of a refinishing project.

Would be interested to hear what direction you ended up taking, particularly whether you tried spraying the finish in the end. If you’ve made some progress, I’m sure others dealing with ageing roller doors would find the update useful too.

Mitchell

johnk

Hi Mitchell,

I have ended up simply using a 400 grit sanding block to sand off some of the grime. I still have a lot more to do. Then as well as that, I have used some automotive polish on the outer part of the door so better clean the exterior facing sections.

From the research I have done, yes, the way to go is to sand off all the grime and any rust, treat sections with a rust inhibitor, undercoat where needed, and then spray with a metal finish paint. A dozen spray cans would do the job to get a nice silver metallic finish. I do not think my door has deteriorated enough yet to warrant this.

There are a few good YouTube videos of professional spraying roller doors, but they appear to use high end spray equipment which makes a diffence.

John K.

EricL

Hello @johnk

Thank you very much for the update. You would be surprised with the finish you can get with a standard https://www.bunnings.com.au/wagner-w350-wood-and-metal-paint-sprayer_p0216877 These are designed to spray on wood and metal. The W350 paint sprayer is ideal for small to medium sized projects for high-quality precision painting application where finish and control matters. An excellent choice for spraying gutters, panel doors, furniture, shelving, pipes, frames, appliances, cabinets, window frames, garage doors, shutters, porcelain, architraves, trims, multi-colour finishes and much more. Great for painting areas that a brush or roller typically can’t reach, with a superior finish.

Should you ever decide to forgo the spray cans, I suggest looking at the Wagner W350 as an alternative. It's a great tool to add to your collection and can be used to spray furniture as well.

Here is a handy step-by-step guide: How To Paint Your House’s Exterior (the techniques used are applicable to your project)

I also suggest having a look at this demonstration guide as well - How to Paint a House With a Sprayer

Please remember to wear personal protection such as gloves, goggles and a paint rated mask.

Eric

johnk

Hi Eric,

I had a look at this product. Have a read of the reviews. It does not appear to provide a good result for thicker style paints to provide a fine finish, and this is the problem with the cheap sprayers I'm afraid and you need to dilute the paint. I could be wrong.

John K.

EricL

Hello @johnk

Your absolutely right in regard to diluting the paint. It's important that the paint be mixed in such a way that it works well with the sprayer. Poor paint preparation can result in a substandard finish. I would definitely suggest doing a few practice runs on an unused panel to get the feel of the paint gun and the mix of the paint. Going in unprepared and taking the paint mix for granted will not give you a positive outcome.

Here is a great example of a garage door spray painted with a corded sprayer - Garage door update using paint spray gun by @sidrah. I believe they used an https://www.bunnings.com.au/ozito-400w-power-paint-spray-gun_p1661264 . The finish was quite impressive.

Eric

MikeTNZ

Hi @johnk,

Personally I think this needs some sort of chemical treatment, this is the part of the roller door that never sees the sun when it is closed.

What I would do, is try a very dilute solution of sodium hypochlorite sprayed on and left for 30 minutes but you will still need to remove the build-up with gloves, safety glasses, a respirator and a stiff brush, as well as having a hose to keep the cleaned surfaces wet as you clean.