A metal entrance door is painted with ZAHYST 3 in 1 anti-corrosion primer-enamel, standard or hammer finish, or with a GF-021 primer plus enamel system. ZAHYST 3 in 1 goes straight onto rust once the loose layer is brushed off, while DEKOLUX and PF-115 enamels need bare clean metal and a primer. Below are the three options compared from the data sheets, and the order of work.
Three ways to paint a metal door
System | Substrate | Coats and interval | Consumption per coat | Finish | Fully cured |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ZAHYST 3 in 1 | over rust after wire-brushing | 2 coats, 2 h apart | 70–150 g/m² | medium gloss, RAL colours | not before 7 days |
ZAHYST 3 in 1 hammer finish | over rust after wire-brushing | 2–3 coats wet-on-wet, 10–50 min apart | 150–200 g/m² | gloss, hammered pattern | after 4–7 days |
GF-021 + DEKOLUX | rust-free metal, 1 coat of primer, ≥24 h drying | 1–2 coats of enamel, second after at least 5 h | 30–60 g/m² | high gloss | full hardness after 7 days |
GF-021 + PF-115 | rust-free metal, 1 coat of primer, ≥24 h drying | 1–2 coats of enamel, second once the first is fully dry | 60–120 g/m² (DEKOMAL) | gloss | — |
Figures come from the data sheets. Work out the area of both faces and the number of tins in the paint consumption calculator.
Which paint to choose
An old door with rust and dents
ZAHYST 3 in 1 hammer-finish enamel hides surface defects. Its data sheet lists gates, fences, metal furniture and decorative metalwork. Colours: silver, gold, copper, sea green, blue, brown, chocolate brown, anthracite and black. Application details are in how to use hammer-finish enamel.
A smooth door in a RAL colour
ZAHYST 3 in 1 anti-corrosion primer-enamel combines rust inhibitor, primer and enamel and comes in RAL colours, from white and light grey RAL 7035 to graphite RAL 7024 and black RAL 9011. The manufacturer states over 7 years of protection.
Maximum gloss
DEKOLUX alkyd-urethane enamel gives a high-gloss finish with stated protection of over 10 years. It goes on primer only: bare metal first gets one coat of DEKOMAL GF-021 anti-corrosion primer. A cheaper pairing is the same primer with DEKOMAL PF-115 alkyd enamel.
Preparing the door
- Remove handles and lock plates or mask them, and protect the seal.
- Strip any flaking old paint.
- For ZAHYST 3 in 1, remove loose flaking rust with a wire brush. Firm rust can stay.
- For GF-021, remove rust and mill scale completely and sand. Prime immediately after cleaning, within 8–10 hours of cleaning the metal, and apply enamel once the primer has dried, no sooner than 24 hours later.
- Degrease. ROZCHYNNYK 3 in 1 does the job: its data sheet lists degreasing as an intended use.
- Let the metal dry. Clean and paint in dry weather.
How to paint a door with ZAHYST 3 in 1
- Stir the primer-enamel in the tin. The hammer version is stirred, not shaken.
- Apply by roller, brush or spray. The viscosity is set for brush and roller. Standard ZAHYST 3 in 1 can be thinned with ROZCHYNNYK 3 in 1 or solvent naphtha by up to 10% by volume. See how to thin alkyd paint.
- Standard primer-enamel: two coats, 2 hours apart. The recommended two-coat thickness is 80–100 µm.
- Hammer finish: 2–3 coats wet-on-wet, 10–50 minutes apart. If you miss that window, wait 4–7 days before the next coat, otherwise fresh enamel dissolves the uncured layer and you get orange peel.
- Clean tools with ROZCHYNNYK 3 in 1 or solvent naphtha.
Temperature and humidity
For every product in this article, air and metal should be between +5 and +30 °C with relative humidity no higher than 60%. The optimum for hammer-finish ZAHYST 3 in 1 is +10 to +25 °C at 40–65% humidity. Low temperature and high humidity lengthen drying. If the door faces the street, paint the outside in dry weather; other limits set by the data sheets are collected in what temperature you can paint outdoors.
The inside face of a flat door
The inside face takes the same products. If you have to work in a lived-in room, there is the water-based 7-in-1 primer-enamel for wood, metal and concrete: it has no strong odour, goes onto metal without a separate primer, and each coat dries in 30 minutes. Colour and sheen will then differ from the outside, so plan for that.
Common mistakes
- Painting over loose rust without brushing it off.
- Putting DEKOLUX or PF-115 on bare metal without GF-021.
- Missing the 10–50 minute window for hammer enamel and recoating an hour or two later.
- Thinning the enamel by more than 10%.
- Using ZAHYST 3 in 1 on galvanised steel, or putting any paint directly onto it without primer. The manufacturer confirms that galvanised steel is degreased and primed with DEKOMAL GF-021 alkyd primer, then painted with RUBBER FARBA rubber paint, PF-115 enamel or DEKOLUX. ZAHYST 3 in 1 is not suitable for galvanised steel.
- Washing or knocking the coating before it cures: 7 days for ZAHYST 3 in 1 and DEKOLUX, 4–7 days for hammer finish.
What to use
For an old door with defects: hammer-finish ZAHYST 3 in 1 in 2–3 coats. For a smooth door in a RAL colour: standard ZAHYST 3 in 1 in two coats. For gloss: GF-021 and DEKOLUX. Products that go over rust are on the 3-in-1 paint for rust page, and the same job on gates is covered in how to paint metal gates without rust. Wooden doors need different products, covered in how to paint wooden interior doors.
FAQ
Can I paint a metal door over rust?
Yes, with ZAHYST 3 in 1 once loose rust has been wire-brushed off. Under DEKOLUX and PF-115, rust is removed completely and the metal is primed with GF-021.
How many coats does an entrance door need?
ZAHYST 3 in 1: two coats 2 hours apart. Hammer finish: 2–3 coats 10–50 minutes apart. DEKOLUX: 1–2 coats over primer.
What paint hides dents on a door?
Hammer-finish ZAHYST 3 in 1: its data sheet states a decorative effect that masks surface defects.
When can I use the door after painting?
ZAHYST 3 in 1 reaches its service properties after at least 7 days, the hammer finish after 4–7 days. Until then, protect it from knocks and washing.
