Entry Door Refinish

Stylish single entry stain finished doors tend to show the effects of weathering after several years of exposure to the harsh elements. The stain starts to fade and the clear coat no longer protects the wood from the weather.

Unprotected wood starts to turn gray as it dries out, causing it's surface to draw up resulting in splinters, cracks and ugliness.

Decorative replacement doors are expensive to replace, especially if they are decorated with prism glass, engraved details, or are impossible to find antiques.

New doors generally start their pricing at about $1200.00 and upwards toward $3000.00 for the entire door assembly. Then there is the additional cost of having to pay someone to tear out the old door assembly and install the new one. 








I offer an entry door refinish solution that brings new life to your weather beaten single entry door's exterior side for years to come at a fraction of the cost over replacing the entire door assembly.

The refinishing process is done at your home over the course of three consecutive days. This procedure is done outside due to fumes and is best planned for days with low humidity and no rain. 

While working on the door, the entry way will be covered up to keep the inside air inside and the outside air outside, if need be.



If interested in refinishing your exterior doors, please call me today to schedule a home visit and a free estimate.





About the stain:

I use Cabot and Benjamin Moore stains as preferred stains due to their immediate availability. These stains contains pigments for color instead of dyes. Stains made with pigments don't sun fade like stains that are made of dyes.

I carry sample color chips with me to help simplify choosing a particular color or shade.

I don't use Minwax because it is composed of a mixture of dyes, pigments, and wax. The added wax can cause the stain to not penetrate the wood successfully if a second coat of stain is needed to darken the color further. For example, oak is a hardwood and additional coats of stain are usually required to satisfactorily acquire a good dark stain. The wax in Minwax fills the grains on the first coat and any further staining could be hampered.

About the clear coat:

The clear coat I use is Helmsman Spar Varnish which is marine varnish. It is weather durable and has a u.v. protectant in it. I usually apply two coats as a minimum for protection because it brushes on thick. At the owner's request, additional coats can be applied at cost.

Spar varnish or spar urethane comes in three finishes: satin, semi-gloss, and gloss. The examples above show a semi-gloss finish.

Polyurethane itself is an interior finish for it doesn't afford any u.v. protection and should only be used on interior objects. Polyurethane yellows up in direct sunlight as it starts to degrade.




Dings and gouges add character!!!

Not all dings and gouges get sanded out. When wood is stained, scratches and dings tend to get darker than the rest of the door and stand out. This is normal and adds character to the door.

This entry door refinish solution process is for the exterior side of any <36" single entry door only. Most door interior sides are generally in good shape to begin with, and don't hardly ever require any work done.

This process can be adapted to other applications such as sidelights and exterior mullions of full framed doors if need be at cost.




Door maintenance:

The finish is expected to last 4-5 years on exterior doors that are directly exposed to the elements. Protected doors will last much longer.

When the finish begins to look a little dull from weather exposure, light sanding on the finish and another coat of spar varnish will be required to bring back the original luster and add 4-5 more years of protection to the door.




The Process:

This is the basic process that takes about three days to complete so that you can know what to expect.

1. The door is always removed from the frame to be worked on.
2. All hardware is removed. Edges are taped and so is glass.
3. A chemical stripper is applied to remove the old finish.
4. Door is scraped and scrubbed with the details worked out.
5. Rough sanding is done to remove left over stain and finish where possible.
6. Fine sanding is then done to open the grains to receive stain.
7. Everything is wiped with a tack cloth to remove all dust.
8. Stain is applied to taste. Rehang door and let dry 4-6 hours/over night.
9. First coat of spar varnish is brushed on. Rehang door and let dry for 24 hours.
10. The door is then sanded with 300 steel wool, wiped, and the final coat of spar varnish is brushed on. Let dry.