What paint should I use to paint front door? The paint would go on two surfaces: steel or aluminum (door) and frame (wood). The door appears to have been painted previously with Comex Flex Glow (Acrylic Enamel).
A colleague of mine was telling me that I should use “Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel” (https://www.sherwin-williams.com/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&urlLangId=-1&productId=312501&urlRequestType=Base&langId=-1&catalogId=11051#data-sheet). I have painted my house and garage door with Sherwin Williams Emerald Siding Flat/Satin. I was planning to use the same paint Sherwin Williams Emerald Siding Satin to paint the door.
What is so special about Urethane? Why "Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel" would be better? Would I be able to use “Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel” on top of the Acrylic Enamel? Should I just continue with the paint I used for siding and garage door?
The world of paint is confusing… Thank you for the help!
Best Answer
The world of paint is intentionally made confusing by people trying to sell you stuff. (a lot like the world of investing.)
One of their favorite tricks is taking buzzwords from better paints, and finding the minimum possible way to legally use those words in their product. Like spar varnish - it's for spars. Or Epoxy, which is 2-part by definition - as is Polyurethane -- Imron, Nason, Interlux and Awlgrip are examples of bona-fide 2-part polyurethane paints. Your car and any commercial jet is painted with it. They work because the cure happens in-situ, at full strength and without the need for air or moisture to cure.
Any 1-part paint is simply already-cured epoxy or urethane, ground up and mixed into the paint. The material is tough and does help - but not near as much as the real deal.
They won't sell you actual 2-part urethanes or epoxies because the B-part is a toxic immune system irritant until cured. It requires careful mixing and extreme "moon suit" grade protection when spraying. (brushing is safe.) They will sell you 2-part garage floor paint because nobody sprays that.