How to Refinish an Exterior Wooden Door

Refinishing an exterior wood door not only restores its look but protects the wood.

An exterior wooden door adds a warm and elegant touch to the exterior decor of your house. Regular use and exposure to heat, light, moisture and dirt wear the finish on an exterior wooden door. To refinish an exterior wooden door you must strip the old finish and sand, stain, and seal the wood. This will restore the look of your door and house.

Things You'll Need

• 120 grit sandpaper 180 grit sandpaper Stain Polyurethane Chemical stripper Brush Cloth Tack cloth Putty knife Medium-grade steel wool

Instructions

1. Mask off any hardware. Apply a heavy coat of chemical stripper onto the exterior wooden door with a clean brush. Allow the stripper to sit on top of the old finish for the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer.

2. Scrape the old finish off the surface of the exterior wooden door with a putty knife. Scrub the old finish off of edges and smaller spaces with steel wool. For stubborn spots, you can use steel wool that was dipped in stripper. Follow the manufacturer's directions for cleaning the stripper residue off the wood. Allow the door to dry thoroughly before refinishing.

3. Sand the exterior wooden door with 120 grit sandpaper to remove any remaining spots of old finish. Wipe the wood clean with a tack cloth, and sand the door with 180 grit sandpaper to smooth the wood surface of the door. Wipe again with a tack cloth.

4. Brush a coat of stain onto the surface of the exterior wooden door. Let the stain absorb into the wood surface of the exterior door, and wipe off any excess with a clean cloth. Let the coat of stain dry according to the manufacturer's directions.

5. Apply a light coat of polyurethane onto the exterior wooden door with a clean brush. Allow the polyurethane to dry. Lightly sand the wood surface of the exterior door with 180 grit sandpaper to smooth any raised grain. Clean the wood with a tack cloth, making sure to remove all dust. Brush a second light coat of polyurethane onto the exterior wooden door with a brush.

Tips & Warnings

• Work with the grain of the wood at all times.

• Wear eye protection and hand protection. Keep your work area well ventilated.

References

• Lowe's: How to Refinish Wood