How to Paint Vehicle Door Jambs

When you paint the exterior of your car, the last thing you want is the door jamb to be a different color. Completing this job on a standard four-door sedan should take only a few hours. You can purchase the supplies you need to complete the job at your local hardware store.

Instructions

1

Remove weatherstripping from the door jamb. Pull this off gently, so you do not rip or tear the weatherstripping.

2

Measure the inside width of the door jamb from the longest point. The width is the distance from the front of the door jamb to the b-pillar or part where the door latch is. Cut plastic sheeting a few inches longer than the largest width of the door jamb.

3

Measure the height of the door jamb. Unfold the plastic sheeting, and cut it a few inches longer than the height of the door jamb.

4

Starting with the top corners, use masking tape to hold up the plastic sheeting. Do not tape over areas you are going to paint. The best method for this is to get inside the vehicle, and tape it from the inside to the edge of the area you are going to paint.

5

Use large strips of tape to completely mask the interior of the car from the door jamb. Mask off any parts or pieces you do not want painted (i.e., door latch parts, internal hinge parts, vehicle identification stickers, etc.).

6

Spread out the clear plastic sheeting, and cut it at least two feet in width. This is going to be taped to the outside of the vehicle to prevent overspray from ruining your exterior paint job. If the door jambs are going to be the same color as the car, you can mask off about 6 inches shy to make the new paint blend with the existing paint. Mask off the roof of the car, the car door that you are not working on, and the fender or quarter panel near the area you are painting.

7

Apply paint coats evenly, staying at least 5 to 6 inches from the painting surface. Use long swinging strokes to spray evenly. Do not stop or hold the sprayer in any spot for any length of time. The key to even coating is to keep the sprayer moving.

8

Let the paint stand for at least 8 hours if you are using a true vehicle paint. Applying direct heat to the paint will allow it to cure faster. Check the paint in an inconspicuous area to see if it is still tacky or sticky. If paint is tacky or sticky, it is not dry. Wait until the paint is completely dry to proceed in this project.

9

Sand the door jamb using wet sandpaper with a very fine grit. Clean the area thoroughly with water and a rag. Apply a second coat of paint if necessary. Apply a clear coat on top of the paint to protect it from chipping and rubbing.