How to Refinish your Front Door

This article will give you the courage to tackle one of the most self satisfying home projects that everyone with a front door faces, Refinishing their Front Door.
Follow these steps precisly and you too will have a pretty door.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 gallon of any semi-paste paint remover
• 2" bristle paint brush (Any kind)
• Soft nylon bristle scrub brush
• Scotch brite or any scrub pad
• Paper towels (roll)
• Big bowl of water
• 1 Quart Helmsman Spar Urethane (Gloss, Satin, Etc.)
• Minwax Stain of your choice.(most doors are red mahogany)
• Two 3" foam brushs
• 2 Saw horses or sturdy bench
• 220 grit sand paper
• Plastic Scrapper

1. Remove the door: Start in the morning and you can have a beautiful door by late afternoon. You may need help taking the door down, but don't panic they're not that heavy with two people.
   Open door wide, stack one pile of magazines tightly under the center of the door to keep it at hinge level
   Take the screws out of door hinges, remove the door, place the door on saw horses or equivalent.

2. 
   Applying remover

   Strip the old finish: Apply the paint remover lightly all over the door using the 2" bristly paint brush. As the remover soaks in, keep re-applying the remover, working around the door until you see the wood beneath. This is where most people make their first mistake ... they let the remover dry out and then try to scrap the finish off. Let the remover do the work for you. It may take 15 to 30 minutes of continuous application to get through the finish. At this time use your scrub brush to loosen any remaining finish. Wipe the remover off the edge of the door as you work, so it doesn't drip and take the finish off the other side.

3. Dispose of remover: Gently scrap off the finish with a plastic scrapper placing it on an open newspaper. After all the big chunks of finish are off, wipe the door down with the paper towels, and dispose of them in a plastic grocery bag. This could take a whole roll of towels. Your door should be fairly clean by now.
   With clean scrub brush, clean out the cracks around glass and panels as it dries.

4. 
   Door is clean and dry

   Clean the door: Now you want to wash the door with the scotch brite. Dip the pad in the water, shake off excess water (should be damp and not too wet) and rub in the direction of the grain until clean. It will not take much to clean.
   Do sections at a time and dry with paper towels until finished.
   This cleans the residue out of the pores of the wood and allows the door to dry faster. Allow the door to dry thoroughly.

5. 
   Applying stain

   Stain & Finish: After door dries, lightly sand door in line with the grain to smooth the wood.
   Apply the stain of your choice, liberally to the door using a foam brush. Apply a section at a time, wiping the door with a paper towel in the direction of the grain. Once you complete staining the door, there is no need to wait for it to dry before applying the spar urethane.
   Apply 1 coat of spar urethane using a foam brush. For a smoother finish, allow the first coat to dry until no longer tacky to the touch, and very lightly, soft sand the door using 220 grit sandpaper (remove any bumps).
   Apply 2 additional coats of spar urethane, allowing the door to dry to tacky between coats.

6. 
   Voila! A Pretty Door

   Install the door: After the door dries to the touch (appr. 1-2 hours) with the aid of your helper, carry the door and reinstall following the instructions in Step #1 in reverse order.
   
   You can generally refinish a door in approximately 4-5 hours.

Tips & Warnings

• Start early
• Keep remover wet
• Wipe edges so remover doesn't run
• Read these directions carefully
• If you have trouble contact me at www.Aprettydoor.com
• Wear rubber gloves
• Wear eye protection
• Have someone help move the door to and from the saw horses

Resources

• Rick's Front Door Refinishing

[GreenGardenChic]

on 10/13/2008 This is exactly the info I need and full of great instructions for refinishing a door. Thanks for the reminder.