How to Refinish a Fiberglass Front Door

Fiberglass doors look like hardwood but are easier to refinish.

Hardwood doors produce a first impression of style and elegance to those entering your home, but hardwood can be difficult to work with. The heavy doors can be difficult to install, hard to maintain and difficult to repaint or restain. Fiberglass, on the other hand, can be stained to look just like wood, providing elegance without the hassle. Proper cleaning, preparing and painting or staining can leave your fiberglass looking as good as or better than the wood alternatives.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Paper or plastic sheeting
• Masking tape
• Water
• Soap
• White rags
• Mineral spirits
• Stain
• Paintbrush
• Clear finish
• Tackcloth

Instructions

1. Place the door in an area in which you are comfortable working. Leave the door on its frame so long as you can work there without damaging or staining other surfaces; you can also remove the door from its hinges and lay it in a separate work area.

2. Open windows or use fans to circulate fresh air. The products used to clean and refinish the fiberglass door can cause strong, harmful fumes.

3. Remove all hardware from the door, including knobs, hinges or other installations, using a screwdriver. If you can't remove the hardware, mask it with protective plastic or paper and masking tape. Cover the windows in this way as well.

4. Clean the door with water and dish soap to remove dirt, grime, grease and other contaminants. Rinse with clean water to remove residual soap.

5. Dampen a clean, white rag in mineral spirits or denatured alcohol and thoroughly wash the door; the spirits will remove any excess grease or other such residue. Rinse with clean water and allow the surface of the door to dry completely.

6. Apply stain to the door surface with a clean, white cloth. Rub in a circular motion for best adherence results. Start at the edges of the door and work your way in; remove any splashes or drips with a clean cloth (dampened in mineral spirits, if necessary). Blend the stain with a paintbrush so that the circular pattern does not appear in the final product.

7. Adjust the color of your stain during application. For a light-colored result, allow the stain to settle on the surface for about five minutes and wipe some of it away with a paintbrush or another clean cloth; this will allow the stain to adhere slightly, but with a light color. If you prefer a darker color, allow the stain to settle for up to 15 minutes before blending or removing excess stain. Continue until the whole door is stained. Allow the stain to dry for 48 hours.

8. Apply a second coat for a darker color, or apply touch-ups as necessary. Allow all stain to dry completely for 48 hours.

9. Apply a thin layer of clear topcoat; dampen the edges of the paintbrush just a little to prevent the coat from going on too thick. Apply the finish in the same order in which you applied the stain. The topcoat will appear white at first; so long as you use a thin layer, it will dry clear. Allow the finish to dry.

10. Wipe the area with a tackcloth to remove any dust or dirt that may have accumulated, and then apply another thin layer of topcoat. Apply at least three layers in this manner; depending on the product you choose, you may need up to five layers for best protection. Allow the finish to dry.

11. Reattach the hardware. Remove the protective coverings and reinstall the door.

Tips & Warnings

• If you remove screws or hardware from the door, keep them in a secure, out-of-the-way place while you work, so that you do not stain them or lose them.

• Matching the exact stain of your door can be difficult. Take a picture of the door with you to the paint or hardware store, or select a new stain color to use on your fiberglass door.

• Never use sandpaper on a fiberglass door; the sandpaper will severely scratch the fiberglass surface.

References

• Ask the Builder: Painting Fiberglass Doors and Finishing Tips
• House-Painting-Info: Staining a Fiberglass Door