How to Sand & Restain a Front Door

Your front door is one of the most important components of the exterior of your house, as it is the focal point in the facade. If chipped, peeling paint or unsightly spots are marring your front door, sanding and staining it a shade that will showcase the grain of the wood is a wise idea and a fairly simple task for the average DIY enthusiast.

1/3 cup trisodium phosphate
1 gallon water
Bucket
Scrub brush
Old towel
80-grit sandpaper
Electric sander
200-grit sandpaper
300-grit sandpaper
Tack cloth
Stain
2 3-inch nylon brushes
Lint-free cloths
Weatherproof polyurethane

Instructions

- 1
  Combine 1/3 cup trisodium phosphate with 1 gallon water in a bucket. Dip a scrub brush in the mixture and shake it off. Scrub down the door vigorously. Wipe down the wet door with an old towel and allow it to air dry for an hour.
- 2
  Press a piece of 80-grit sandpaper onto the bottom of an electric sander. Run the sander along the surface area of the door thoroughly. Repeat with 200-grit sandpaper and 300-grit sandpaper. Swab down the door with a tack cloth, removing all dust.
- 3
  Dip a paintbrush into the stain of your choice. Cover the door with a thick coat of stain, applying the strokes in even, up and down movements. Allow it to soak for 20 minutes and then wipe off the excess with a lint-free cloth. Repeat two more times.
- 4
  Dip a fresh paintbrush in a clear polyurethane that is designed for outdoor spaces and is waterproof and UV-resistant. Cover the door with a light coat of the polyurethane, allowing it 24 hours to dry. Repeat with a second coat.

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