Has your garage door lost its original shine due to exposure from sun, rain and weathering? Over time, UV radiation breaks down the surface pigments, leaving metal, GRP (fiberglass) and composite garage doors looking faded, dull and aged.
Replacing or repainting a garage door can be expensive and/or time-consuming. Fortunately, you can restore the original colour and shine quickly and easily using Owatrol Polytrol colour restoring oil.
Below, we share a real customer transformation story from Brian, along with a complete step-by-step guide on how to achieve a similar result yourself.
In this post:
- Real Customer Transformation
- What is Owatrol Polytrol and How Does It Work?
- How to Restore a Faded Garage Door (Step-by-Step Guide)
- Frequently Asked Questions
Real Customer Transformation: Brian’s Garage Door Restoration
When Brian noticed his once dark, cherry red garage door had turned faded and chalky, he searched online for an easy solution to restore it without repainting. He chose Owatrol Polytrol.
“just chanced upon your advert while browsing the net looking for a product that would improve the look of my door, and I am so very glad that I did…I couldn’t have wished for a better result!”
Before & After Results
- Left: Faded and dull garage door surface, suffering from UV damage.
- Right: Vibrant, restored deep colour after applying one layer of Polytrol.
What is Owatrol Polytrol and How Does It Work?
Polytrol is a deeply-penetrating oil that restores the colour and lustre of faded surfaces. Unlike standard paints or varnishes, Polytrol:
- Penetrates deep within the surface: Re-wets the dried-out pigments beneath the oxidized layers.
- Leaves no film layer: As it’s place is inside the treated surface, there is no coating and so will not peel or flake.
- Offers protection: Protects against UV light, moisture and atmospheric pollution.
- Works on multiple surfaces: Ideal for metal, fiberglass (GRP), plastics, powder-coated finishes, tiles, gelcoats and more!
How to Restore a Faded Garage Door (Step-by-Step Guide)
Restoring your garage door with Polytrol requires minimal tools and no special equipment.
Tools & Materials Needed:
- Owatrol Polytrol Colour Restorer
- Soap and water (or a degreasing cleaner such as Pura-Trol)
- 50:50 bleach and water solution (or other mould / mildew remover, if they are present)
- Paintbrush, roller or lint-free cloth for application
- Clean microfibre or lint-free wiping cloths for removal of excess
Step 1: Clean and Prepare the Surface
Proper prep work ensures Polytrol can penetrate deeply into the surface.
- Wash the door: Clean away any dirt, grime, oil and dust using warm soapy water and a sponge, or Pura-Trol.
- Treat mildew (if necessary): Scrub affected areas with a 50:50 mixture of bleach and water. Leave for 10 mins, then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
- Strip away all previous coatings: Ensure any residual wax or polish, for example, is completely removed. This is very important as any contaminant will block Polytrol from being able to saturate and as such will not work.
- Dry completely: Allow the garage door to dry 100% before applying Polytrol. Do not apply to damp surfaces.
Step 2: Apply Owatrol Polytrol
- Work in manageable sections (i.e areas that you can complete within 10–20 minutes).
- Apply a liberal coat of Polytrol using a brush, cloth or roller – or spray on if using the aerosol can.
- If you notice uneven patches where some spots look matt and others shiny, simply spread the excess oil from shiny areas to the matt sections.
Step 3: Wipe Away the Excess
- Leave the Polytrol to work for around 10 to 20 minutes. Do not let Polytrol dry out and create a film. It must stay wet, be left to work and then removed before drying out.
- After a few minutes, and before the product dries, wipe off all excess with a clean, dry lint-free cloth.
- (Optional) For a glossier appearance, buff the surface gently with a microfibre cloth once the excess is removed.
Step 4: Allow to Cure
Leave the garage door to dry thoroughly. Polytrol dries to a flexible, long-lasting finish that won’t peel or flake.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How much Polytrol do I need for a garage door?
A 1 litre tin of Polytrol covers approximately 18 m². Typically, 0.5 litres is more than enough to treat a single standard garage door, with product left over for other things such as vehicle bumpers!
How long does a Polytrol treatment last on a garage door?
A single application of Polytrol typically lasts somewhere around 12 months. However, it can last as many as 24 months+ depending on UV exposure and weather conditions. Coastal environments or south-facing doors exposed to intense sunlight may require reapplication closer to the 12-month mark.
Does Polytrol work on painted or powder-coated garage doors?
Yes! Polytrol works effectively on metal, powder-coated finishes, plastic and fiberglass (GRP). It rejuvenates faded paint and gelcoats without changing the original colour.
We hope this post on How to Restore a Faded Garage Door with Polytrol Colour Restorer interesting! If you have any other advice or top tips, please feel free to leave them in the comments below. We love hearing from you!
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About Owatrol Team
Our team are ready and willing to support you with your requirements whether it is protecting your newly laid deck or renovating a luxury yacht, whatever the application Owatrol has the solution you are looking for.
I have double garage doors which are a reddish brown metal. After 12 years they are now faded. As an older person I cannot tackle the job of restoring them myself so I will need to engage a decorator or handyman to do it for me. Please advise as to the product I will need, how much and approximately how long it should take to apply.
Thank you.
Hi Mrs McDermott,
Polytrol should be suitable to restore the colour of your faded garage doors.
A 1 litre tin should be enough to cover the doors as a little goes quite a long way.
Application of Polytrol is very quick. Simply apply it to the surface with a brush or cloth, leave it for 10-20 mins to work, then simply remove the excess with a clean lint free cloth. For a shinier finish, simply buff the surface after the excess has been removed.
I hope this is helpful. Please feel free to contact us again should you require any further assistance.
All the best,
The Owatrol Team
How long will the coating last typically once applied to a gelcoat door?
Hi there Mark,
It varies as to how long Polytrol will last depending on the levels of UV rays, weathering and pollution the surface is exposed to. As a general rule of thumb, Polytrol will usually last around 12 months before you need to reapply.
However, surfaces exposed to high UV and weathering (such as by the sea) will require it more often, whereas surfaces that do not have this type of extreme exposure won’t require another application for potentially 24+ months.
All the best,
The Owatrol Team