Entrance Door Refinishing

Preparation

• 1

  Remove the door from the hinges and lay it flat on top of sawhorses.

• 2

  Sand wooden entrance doors with a palm sander stocked with 180-grit sandpaper. Sand along with the wood grain. Stop sanding when the finish appears dull. Skip this step if the door is not wooden.

• 3

  Sand wooden entrance doors with a palm sander stocked with 220-grit sandpaper. Sand along with the wood grain. Stop sanding when the finish feels smooth. Skip this step if the door is not wooden.

• 4

  Abrade fiberglass doors to promote adhesion. Scour the door with 220-grit sandpaper until it feels slightly coarse.

• 5

  Cover areas of the door you do not want refinished with painter's tape.

Painting

• 6

  Coat wood and fiberglass doors with acrylic latex primer using a roller. Use a metal etching primer on metallic doors. Promote a flawless finish by smoothing the wet primer using a 3- to 4-inch latex paintbrush. Apply gentle pressure and brush in a long vertical motion. Wait three hours for the primer to dry.

• 7

  Wash the painting tools with water.

• 8

  Coat the primed entrance door with acrylic enamel using the roller. Use the clean 3- to 4-inch latex paintbrush to smooth the wet enamel. Wait two hours for the enamel to dry. Apply a second coat if you have poor coverage. Wait three hours before reinstalling the door.

Staining

• 9

  Coat wooden doors with oil-based stain using a 3- to 4-inch oil paintbrush. Wipe excess stain from the door with clean cloth rags. Wait four hours for the stain to dry.

• 10

  Wash the brush with mineral spirits.

• 11

  Coat the stained door with varnish using the clean paintbrush. Wait three hours before reinstalling the door.