How to Redo a Stained Front Door

Unscrew the hinge or remove the hinge pins. Carefully lift the door off the hinges and set it aside.

Set up two saw horses and carefully lift the door on top of them. Sand off the old finish using a random orbital sander with a dust extractor port. Attach the dust extractor port to a vacuum hose to keep your workspace as dust free as possible. It is still important to wear a dust mask, even when using a dust extractor.

Sand the old finish off the door. Start with 60-grit sandpaper to remove as much of the old finish as fast as possible. Change to 100-grit sandpaper after the first pass, then 150-grit and finally 220-grit for the final pass. Sand the door until all the old finish and any old scratches and imperfections have been removed from the wood.

Vacuum all remaining dust from the door after it has been thoroughly sanded. Wipe the entire surface with a clean rag to remove any residual dust and make the surface as clean as possible.

Apply the new stain using a China bristle brush. Use a quality wiping stain and apply it in the direction of the wood grain. Allow the stain to dry on one side of the door, which might take up to two days, then carefully turn the door over and apply the stain to the other side.