If you are unhappy with the plain garage door on the front of your garage, you can give it a bit of a makeover and create faux windows on it. This project can be completed in less than a day and cost you very little while having a big impact on the appearance of your garage door.

Supply List

• Water Hose
• Bucket scrub brush
• White vinegar
• Utility razor
• Painter's tape
• High-Quality paint brush – to reduce the appearance of bristle lines in the paint
• High-gloss black paint
• Primer

Clean the Garage Door

Before you begin, the garage door needs to be clean so that the paint will adhere to it well and go on smoothly.

Spray the garage door down with the hose to wash away loose debris.

Fill a bucket with hot water and mix in some white vinegar. Use one-cup of vinegar in a five-gallon bucket. The white vinegar works to break-down the dirt but will not leave any residue behind that would prevent the primer and paint from adhering to the surface.

Scrub the door from the top to the bottom. Use the hose to rinse it well and allow the door to dry.

Apply the Painter's Tape

This next step is pretty easy if you have inverted panels on the garage door in which you will paint over to create the faux windows.

If you don't have the inverted panels, you will need to measure and mark the placement of the windows.

Now, decide if you want to add window grilles to the faux windows. If you do, simply cross the center of the window with more tape to keep the grilles from being covered with black paint.

As you apply the tape, make sure to press it firmly onto the surface. Failure to do so will allow the black paint to seep under the tape and make the finished project look terrible.

Prime and Paint

Apply a coat of primer to the area. This step cannot be skipped or the paint will not stick to the surface.

Wait for the primer to dry according to the instructions on the can. If you rush this step, the paint could blister and/or crack after a short time.

Apply the high-gloss black paint using the quality paint brush. Try to keep your strokes going in the same direction so that any lines that do appear will be more uniform and less sloppy looking. Use two coats to create a shiny, perfect finish.

Remove the Tape

Wait until the paint has dried and then, use the razor knife to lightly cut the paint along the tape. This will help to prevent the paint from coming off as you peel the tape off of the surface.

When done right, it will be very hard to tell that these faux windows aren't the real thing as you stand on the street.

For residential garage doors, contact a business such as Advanced Door Service.