Our Gel Stained Garage Door makeover happened one year ago, so I’m giving you guys an update! {affiliate links included for your convenience} We used a less than $20 can of gel stain to transform our paint faded, aluminum garage door. We’ve lived in our home almost 7 years now. Since we moved into our home our brown painted aluminum garage door had faded more and more. Our garage door faces the eastern rising sun and the sun had definitely baked it. We live in Southern California in the inland area where our temps hover around 100 degrees for a couple months of the summer and we can get into the 20’s during the winter. So over this last year our stained garage door has seen those temperature variations.
Gel Stained Garage Door
In case you missed the original Gel Stained Garage Door Tutorial you can read all about it here. But here’s a look at what the garage door looked like right before we stained it. We were in the middle of washing it here. You can see how light brown the garage door had become.
Well one year later and it’s still looking great!
We still have not placed any sealer on top. We meant to, but it just never has happened. I can’t tell any fading yet. The color has adhered perfectly. There’s no chipping, peeling, etc.
Here’s a couple closer looks…
It’s still a gorgeous, rich brown.
So one of the questions I get all the time… “are we still happy with it?”
YES! Couldn’t be happier!
For less than $20 total in supplies our garage door looks 1000 times better!
Would I recommend it? Absolutely!
What I’ve recommended is that you test it on a small area of your door. Obviously we started with a light, brown door… so how it will look if your door is light green right now??? I have no idea. So test it… in a small, inconspicuous area.
All I can say as it worked great on ours and we couldn’t be happier with it still one year later.
If you want to read all the details on the gel stain type and color we used and the supplies you can find them here:
Gel Stained Garage Door Tutorial
We also used gel stain on our front door! You can ready all about it here:
Gel Stained Front Door
Michelle says
January 22, 2019 at 7:07 pmDo you think the gel stain would work on vinyl shutters as well?
Maryann @ Domestically Speaking says
January 22, 2019 at 7:23 pmMichelle I’ve never tried gel stain on vinyl. I’d recommend trying on a small, not noticeable area and see how it works.
Anonymous says
January 25, 2019 at 12:37 pmIt works, I did my garage and shutters!
Vanesda says
June 23, 2019 at 6:55 pmIt works much better on the shutters than the garage door. I did mine two years ago. I did two coats of the sealer. The shutters still look great but the door looks horrible. It gets direct sunlight part of the day and the lower half of the door is peeling and has faded very bad. It’s beautiful when it’s done, but I’m not sure if it’s worth doing it every other year.
jerry says
January 2, 2019 at 11:16 amlooks great do u need to wash door with anything before putting gel stain on, any kind of brush and if u do seal it what would u use thanks cant wait to get started we live in jax fl so hopefully start soon
Maryann @ Domestically Speaking says
January 2, 2019 at 11:19 amHi Jerry – I’ve got all those details in the tutorial. Just click the link above for all those details.
Portella says
November 22, 2018 at 7:23 amThanks for the tutorial! I’m going to do the same next weekend. Your makeover looks incredible.
Jane says
October 27, 2018 at 3:58 pmOur gel stained garage door looked great until it was exposed to Texas sun and heat. It is now flaking and fading. It looks horrible. Has anyone ever painted over gel stain?
Maryann @ Domestically Speaking says
October 28, 2018 at 9:33 amI’m curious what material your garage door is made of? We have 100+ days for months where I live and haven’t had that issue.
Kara Roth says
November 27, 2018 at 4:18 amHi Jane! I live in Texas too and gel stained our garage door. It was metal and had been painted a light beige when the house was built. 4 years later and it still looks great…no peeling. But it has faded a little bit which has changed its color from walnut to an orangy red. So I’m going to do it again (gel stain over gel stain). I’m so sorry yours peeled!! I have no regrets and am happily going to go over it again as it’s a wonderfully cheap but beautiful DIY. Maybe sand yours and start again?
Brooke says
March 20, 2019 at 6:17 amI’m in Michigan and the gel stain worked great through one winter and summer. We are ending this second winter and my door that goes up and down much more than the third stall is peeing bad in the cracks/seam (? – where the door folds). I need to repaint ASAP to sell the house. How should I prep this? It’s a metal door.
Thanks!
Rebecca says
May 16, 2018 at 10:51 amWhat should be used to seal this? Thanks!
Jan says
April 29, 2018 at 7:46 pmMy front door was gel stained 10 years ago when it was built. And it needs to be done again. What do I need to do to prep it to gel stain it again?
Maryann @ Domestically Speaking says
April 30, 2018 at 9:08 amIs the door wood Jan? If so I’d suggest sanding it down. You want to give the gel something to stick too.
Ross says
April 12, 2018 at 7:58 amI just bought the chestnut stain minwax and lived it my garage doors look brand new here in Austin TX
Maryann @ Domestically Speaking says
April 12, 2018 at 8:18 amYay!!! Love hearing that!
Joy says
February 8, 2018 at 8:07 amMaryanne, I love the look of your garage door. I’m happy it still looks so good a year later.