Easiest Way to Restain a Door Jamb

Removing the Old Finish

• You must remove the old finish on the door jamb before applying new stain. According to Lowes.com, the easiest method to do this is to remove the finish using a chemical stripper (paint remover) and then sand the wood to make it smooth.

  To use a chemical stripper, Lowes.com suggests applying the stripper to the finish, letting it sit for a while, and then scraping the softened finish off with a putty knife. Make sure to use chemical stripper in a well-ventilated area and wear gloves to avoid skin contact, due to the toxic nature of the substance.

  Another good chemical method to remove oil finishes, such as shellac and lacquer, is to use Minwax Furniture Refinisher instead of paint remover. According to the directions on the Minwax Web site, their furniture refinisher should be applied to a steel wool pad, which you use to rub old oil finish from the wood.

  After the old finish is removed with a chemical finish remover, sand the wood of the door jamb until it is smooth and ready to be restained.

Choosing and Purchasing the New Stain

• Choose between an oil- and a water-based stain for the door jamb. According to the minwax.com product descriptions, oil-based stains take longer to dry than their water-based counterparts, are more expensive, and have stronger fumes than water-based stains. However, oil-based stains also known to protect wood better. Because door jambs are located in high traffic areas, they should either be finished with two coats of an oil-based stain or one coat of a water-based stain with an extra layer of protective coat on top. Because water-based stains take less time to dry, have fewer fumes, and only need one coat, they are probably easier than oil-based ones.

  Go to a home-improvement store and purchase an oil-based stain that does not need a protective topcoat or a water-based stain and a protective topcoat. Pick out a color that will look good on top of the wood the door jamb is made of.

Preparing the Area for Painting

• Use masking tape to to make a protective rim on the floor and walls right next to the door jamb. It's also a good idea to cover the floor near the door jamb with plastic sheets. This will protect the walls and floor from splatters, and it will allow you to paint faster, since you will not have to be as careful.

Painting the Door Jamb

• Paint the stain on the door jamb in a relatively thin coat, so that it will dry faster without becoming tacky. When using an oil-based stain, allow the first coat to dry for 4 to 6 hours, paint on a second coat, and then allow both layers to dry for at least 8 hours. If the stain is water-based, paint on one layer of stain, allow it to dry for 2 hours, and then paint on a layer of a protective topcoat. If one layer of water-based stain does not make the color dark enough, paint two layers before adding the protective topcoat. One layer is normally enough, but some people prefer two.