How to Restore the Color and Luster of Metal Doors
How to make storage doors look new again and protect the metal from sun, salt air, acid rain and other damaging elements. Everbrite Restoration System is not a paint system - it actually restores the original color and luster of the metal.
Faded, Chalky or Oxidized Storage Doors can be restored to look like new again. Everbrite has U.V. blockers and antioxidants for long lasting protection of painted metal. The metal can be maintained indefinitely by reapplying Everbrite Protective Coating periodically - every 7 to 12 years depending on exposure. In areas with lots of sun exposure, you may need to reapply Everbrite after 5 or 6 years on the South side of the buildings. The North side can last twice as long before needing to be re-coated. You can tell that it is time to restore your doors or metal buildings when you can see the difference in the color and luster of the metal when it is wet versus being dry.
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Metal Building and Door Cleaning Directions:
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Click to view: TRAINING VIDEO OF EVERBRITE RESTORATION PROCESS
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Refinishing metal buildings or doors is a two-step process. First, completely clean the surface. Second, apply Everbrite Protective Coating to renew the color and luster of the metal. Everbrite will also protect metal from oxidation, corrosion, acid rain, chalk, rust and more.
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STEP 1 - CLEANING THE SURFACE
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The goal in cleaning the surface is not only to remove the dirt and grime but also to remove all the chalky oxidation, wax or grease that may be on the surface so the coating can adhere properly.
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Removing the chalky oxidation is simple and easy to do. A typical 8’ x 8’ large door can be completely cleaned in 20 to 30 minutes. It is VERY IMPORTANT to remove all chalk & oxidation from metal to be restored. This will result in a restoration that will be longer lasting and can be maintained indefinitely. Everbrite is clear and will show any chalk, oxidation or other marks left on the surface.
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A bucket of plain water, Prep Pads and a microfiber towel is all that is required for this step. Wet the Prep Pad with plain water. Scrub across each rib - it is not necessary to press hard. Use long strokes and scrub across each rib going back and forth. Start at the top and work your way down the door. Rinse the pad out in water often. Wipe off the residue with a damp microfiber cloth as you go along. When the microfiber cloth is full of chalk, rinse in clean water and continue. Most of the chalky oxidation will clean off easily.
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A final wash with EZ-Prep Cleaner and water will make sure that the doors will be completely clean. See directions below. Be careful to not get water into the storage units. Storage doors should be hand-washed.
Customers normally have their stuff in cardboard boxes stacked within inches of the door, and care must be taken not to get water into the units. The best way is to let the water run down the door instead of spraying with a nozzle. Most seals on storage doors will not keep water out if a stream sprayed into the C channel. Aim the water away from the sides of the door. Care must also be taken to avoid spraying water up onto the top of the door. Also, check to make sure that the seal on the bottom of the door is good. Many times, there is a lip of concrete inside the unit floor which will help to insure no water gets in the unit.
It is a good idea to wash one of the doors on an empty unit first to insure water does not get in the unit.
Rinsing the door by letting the water run down instead of spraying, helps to insure that there is less chance of water getting into the unit. This also reduces the chance that the dirt on top of the door will run down and contaminate your clean surface.
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DIRECTIONS FOR FINAL WASH
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Fill bucket with about 2 to 4 gallons of water.
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Pour in about 1-2 oz. per gallon of EZ-Prep Cleaning Concentrate into the bucket. Do not use too much cleaner or the solution will be difficult to rinse off.
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Rinse the surface down with water. DO NOT apply soap solution on a dry surface or it may streak.
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Dip brush or sponge into soap solution and apply to surface working from top to bottom. It is not necessary to press hard. Use uniform strokes and go all the way across the door if possible.
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Rinse well. DO NOT ALLOW SOAP TO DRY ON SURFACE. Wash in sections if necessary.
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Rinse THOROUGHLY until the water sheets off and there are no bubbles or areas where the water beads up. If there are, rewash the door as that means there is still contamination on the door. Complete and thorough rinsing is very important.
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Let dry and recheck door. Make sure there is no cleaner or other contaminants left on the surface. Check the top of the roll-up doors to make sure that no greasy dirt ran down on the door. If it has, the residue must be removed before coating and can be cleaned off with a clean microfiber and plain water.
This picture shows greasy dirt that ran down from the top of the door. This needs to be cleaned. Use plain water and a clean cloth to remove the residue. Check after the area dries to insure the residue is gone.
How to tell if the surface is clean enough to coat:
How the surface looks wet with water after it is cleaned is the way it will look when it is coated.
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Get Everything you Need with an Everbrite Restoration Kit
Starter Kit
2 Door Test
Restoration Kit
20 Doors
Large Restoration Kit
100 Doors
STEP 2 - APPLICATION OF EVERBRITE PROTECTIVE COATING
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Once the door is clean, the finish will still be dull. Application of Everbrite will bring out the color and luster of the metal.
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When applying Everbrite Coating, the temperature of the metal should not be extremely cold or you may get some runs before the coating dries. The metal should not be very hot either. Put the back of your hand on the door and if the temperature is too hot to leave your hand comfortably for 5 seconds, the metal is too hot. Work on the sun side on cold days and the shade side on hot days.
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TO WIPE EVERBRITE ON THE SURFACE
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​Materials Needed:
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Clearcoat Applicator.
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Application pan. A paint pan or the throwaway aluminum loaf pans work well.
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Nitrile or chemical protective gloves to protect your hands. (Rubber gloves will get sticky when exposed to solvents)
For application on larger areas, spraying Everbrite is much easier than wiping it on. Use an airless or HVLP sprayer with a fine finish tip to spray apply. See Technical Specifications for specifics.
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Put tarp down if working on slurry or blacktop to protect it from the coating.
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Pour about Everbrite into clean, dry paint pan on the tarp. DO NOT DILUTE EVERBRITE.
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Dip the applicator completely into the Everbrite in the application pan. Squeeze out excess. Applicator should not be dripping. If you get drips or runs on the surface, simply wipe them out with your applicator.
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Wipe the Everbrite on the surface working from side to side. Do not press hard. Pad should glide smoothly, when it starts sticking, dip applicator pad in Everbrite again.
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Any missed areas or thin areas can be touched up after 1st coat is dry to touch.
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Two coats of Everbrite are recommended. Everbrite will blend to itself.
Spraying Everbrite is a the easiest and most efficient way of application on larger areas. A small HVLP sprayer with a solvent rated cup (available for under $200) is an excellent investment for application. Fill the cup and spray it onto the clean surface. The spray is adjustable. Hold the sprayer about 3-4 inches from the surface. On roll-up doors, the best way to spray is side to side, hitting each rib and covering the door completely from one side to the other. Coat with a 50% overlap to insure complete coverage. Two coats are highly recommended for long lasting results. There is a close-up video on our training video below showing this technique. The best setting of the sprayer is a vertical fan for spraying side to side and horizontal for spraying up and down.
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That’s it. NO rubbing, NO buffing, Let dry and enjoy the beautiful, new looking, easy to maintain surface. Dirt and dust will not penetrate into the new finish and will be much easier to keep clean. Maintenance of your refinished doors is easy. Click here for After Care Instructions.
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Note: Everbrite Coating will dry to touch in about 10 - 20 minutes depending on temperature. No interruption in your Day-to Day business.
Customer Reviews for Self Storage Facilities
"Sometimes a simple 'Thank You' is not enough. Seems there should be more – especially when you have made two of our family legacy self storage facilities look so radiant! A few years ago, you made the doors sparkle in our 800 + unit facility. The doors were over 30 years old. They endured blistering summers and icy winters. Now they are bright, shiny and fresh looking. We no longer look tired and neglected. Staff and customers are upbeat and rental rates are up as well.
Recently, you applied the same treatment to the doors of another self storage facility of ours. In addition, you treated the entire metal buildings. Talk about the WOW! Factor, this is it. Because we were so pleased with the enduring results of your work on the larger facility, we went for the entire building package for the recent treatment and we could not be more pleased. As a company, your timely response and thoroughness serves you well. Your on site staff were cordial, efficient and thorough. They were fun to chat with. At the end of the day, the jobsite was clean. The work was started and completed as agreed. Well done, my friends. Keep up the good work! May every day be an EVERBRITE DAY !!"
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-Mike Clark Ramona Self Storage - Grand Ave Storage