Talking About Garage Doors

Faux Garage Door Windows To Add Character

Do you think that your garage doors look too plain? Do they appear to be missing something? Maybe what they need is some windows. You can get the appearance of windows on your garage door without having to actually install windows. Here, you will learn how to paint your garage doors to make them appear to have windows to give them a little more character.

To complete this project you will need:

  • Primer
  • Black high-gloss paint
  • Paint brush
  • Painter's tape

Clean the Garage Door

Before you begin the painting process, clean the garage door entirely. You want to remove any dirt and cobwebs to keep it from getting stuck in the paint. Cleaning the garage door is not completely necessary, but it will help the finished product look even more spectacular.

To clean the garage door, fill a five-gallon bucket with hot water and add one-cup of vinegar. This mixture will naturally break down any grease and grime on the door without leaving any residue behind. If you do not have vinegar, you can use a general household degreasing cleaner mixed in the water, but be sure to thoroughly rinse the garage door before continuing.

Allow the garage door to fully dry before continuing.

Tape off the Edges

Using the inverted blocks on your garage door to create windows, use painter's tape to frame the soon-to-be faux windows. Take your time as you apply the tape to ensure the lines are perfectly straight and that the tape is fully pressed to the garage door.

Rather than having what appears to be one pane of glass in the window, you can use the tape to make window grille patterns. This will increase the architectural character of the door with very little work.

Tip: If the painter's tape is not sticking to the surface well, apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol to a clean rag and wipe the area. The alcohol will remove any residue that was previously not removed during the cleaning process and it will quickly dry.

Prime and Paint the Windows

Apply a coat of primer to the area. This will help the paint to adhere to the garage door. Once the primer has dried, apply the first coat of paint. After that coat has dried, apply a second coat. Examine the paint and if you like the look, you are done. If you think it needs an additional coat, apply a third and let it dry.

After the paint has dried, carefully remove the painter's tape.

Note: When working with high-gloss paint, it is important that you invest in a good quality paint brush. If you do not, you will have visible brush marks that will not look very nice and will trap dust and dirt. This will cause the faux windows to look terrible after a very short time.

This project can be completed in no time. If you find that you adore the appearance of the windows and that your garage could use a little added light, consider investing in new garage doors from places like Walpole Doors with real windows. You will get the same look, but will also enjoy natural light in your dreary garage.


Share