How to Stain Unfinished Maple Doors
The light-colored maple wood is a beautiful, attractive addition to any home. An unfinished maple door offers several options for the owner, from coating the original maple to applying a medium-shade stain. Unfinished maple doors are most ideal for staining because there is no previous base of stain or treatment to remove; however, the task is still somewhat difficult and requires skill. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Stain
- Screwdriver
- Sandpaper
- Light wash coating
- Cloth or paintbrush
- Polyurethane
Instructions
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Choose the stain. Because maple is a hardwood, lighter stains work best. Choose a stain that will match the colors of your home, yet find one that works well with maple. Some stains, such as gel stains, are thicker and produce better results on harder woods; get a gel stain if you have little preference as to the color but are looking for better results (see Reference 1).
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Prepare to stain. If the door is attached, remove the door and unscrew all the hinges. Take off the doorknob, and remove any stoppers or extra material at the bottom. Place the door on a sawhorse or a worktable. Although maple is a hardwood, buy fine sandpaper to sand the door. Use 220-grit sandpaper to start, then finish with 280-grit sandpaper. Wipe off the door thoroughly and make sure there is no dust or dirt on the door before you begin sanding (see Reference 1).
In order to ensure cleaner and more consistent application of the stain, the American Wood Finishing Institute recommends applying a light wash coat of one part non-catalyzed vinyl sealer to five parts acetone. Rub this solution on the door before staining and allow it to dry thoroughly (see Reference 2).
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Stain the door. Apply the stain according to the manufacturer's directions. Use a cloth or a paintbrush to evenly spread the stain over the door. Spread the stain to the corners of the door, and make sure the edges are thoroughly covered. Do not permit stain to sit for very long on the door; wipe it away whenever there is excess. Allow this to dry for 12 to 24 hours. Once dry, apply a coat of polyurethane and let sit for 48 hours. Flip the door over and follow the same process for the opposite side. Once dry, attach the hinges and replace the door (see Reference 1).
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Tips & Warnings
Maple does not take dark stains well. It is a very hard wood, and staining with dark colors will easily produce uneven stain. If you want to use a dark stain on maple, consider using a spray stainer to do the job (see Reference 1).
