Refinishing Wood Entry Doors and Garage Doors

Wood doors and garage doors are beautiful greetings to us when we enter and exit our homes….but when they are worn or improperly maintained they can look terrible. How do we get these wonderful entrances to our homes looking so good?

Preparation is key to refinishing wood doors and garage doors!

When we first encounter a wood door that has not been properly maintained it often in such bad shape that we have to do an in depth prep…..Here is a step by step approach

1. We start by chemical stripping to remove all old finishes.
2. Sand sanding to remove all remaining finish and damaged wood.
3. Using wood bleach (not household bleach!), bring wood to even color.
4. Fill heavy damage with epoxy filler
5. Apply stain to desired color
6. Apply a minimum of 3 coats of finish
7. Apply a clear caulk at sill/door frame junction

To keep a wood entry door or garage door maintained, it needs to be re-coated about every 2 years or so depending on exposure. If you wait too long you will have to strip and bleach again!

There is the classic finish of spar varnish which is available in gloss and satin…if you choose this, go to a Boat/Marine store and ask for the premium grade …expect to pay $50 a quart….it is worth it! This system requires more maintenance and is prone to peeling over time

I prefer another system that we use quite a bit, with super results over the long term: Sikkens brand:  SRD , Log and Siding or Cetol 1 and Cetol 23Plus. This is a stain and translucent tinted finish that provides wonderful protection and a beautiful look. This is an especially great product if epoxy filler has been used and the color needs to be evened out.