How to Paint a Steel Entry Door to Simulate Wood

Preparing the Door for Staining

• 1

  Remove the door from the hinges by using a small hammer and a screwdriver. Place the screwdriver on the underside of the hinge pin and hit in an upward motion until the pin pops up and out. Remove all hardware and knobs from the door.

• 2

  Suspend the door horizontally on cloth-covered sawhorses to raise it up to approximate waist level. This places the door in a more comfortable work zone and the cloth protects the door from scratches. Wash with a mixture of 1/4 cup of liquid detergent added to a bucket of warm water. Let dry for 15 to 20 minutes.

• 3

  Scrape off any old and peeling paint using a paint scraper and fine sandpaper. Use masking tape and newspaper to keep primer and stain off any windows in the door. Apply a direct-to-metal primer coat and allow at least two hours of drying time.

• 4

  Apply a gel wood stain one section at a time using tack cloth. Wipe the stain on using a downward motion if the door is constructed with long, vertical sections. Wipe the stain on using a side-to-side motion if the door is constructed with horizontal sections.

• 5

  Pull a wood-graining tool down the stained section of door. Use a continuous rocking motion with the tool to achieve full faux-wood-grain effect. Create a variance in the grain by bumping the door slightly every now and again. Allow the stain to dry for 48 hours. Turn the door over and stain the other side with gel wood stain and add faux-wood grain using the wood-graining tool. Apply the stain to the sides of the door with tack cloth. Allow the stain an additional 48 hours of drying time.

• 6

  Apply two or three layers of a clear top-coat sealant. Wait two to three hours between each layer.

• 7

  Replace the door hardware and knobs. Reinstall the door on the hinges by lining up the hinge-pin holes, sliding the hinge pin down through the top and hammer gently at a downward angle. Remove any masking tape and newspaper from door windows.