Do It Yourself: Restaining Doors

As with any finished wood surface, wooden doors will start to show wear and tear over the years, and this is especially true of exterior doors. When it comes time to refinish your wood doors--usually every 10 to 15 years--you can do this project yourself with a few supplies and a little time. When selecting stain and sealer for your door, choose materials specific to the task at hand. For example, if you are refinishing exterior doors, buy stain and sealer meant for use on exterior wood surfaces.

Screwdrivers
Handheld orbital sander
80- to 100-grit sanding pad
Sanding block
Sanding sponge
180- to 220-grit sanding pad
Clean cloths
Wood stain
Paintbrush, roller or paint sprayer
Polyurethane
Lamb's wool or foam applicator
400-grit sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Open the door and inspect the hinges and screws. Remove the screws from the door side of the hinge with a drill or screwdriver with an appropriate head. Remove the doorknob and set it aside.
- 2
  Strip the finish from the door with an orbital sander. For narrow, intricate or otherwise difficult-to-reach areas, use a sanding block and sanding sponge. To strip the finish, use an 80- to 100-grit sanding pad, block and sponge.
- 3
  Wipe the door down with a damp cloth. Repeat the sanding process with a 180- to 220-grit sanding pad, block and sponge. Wipe the door again to remove the dust.
- 4
  Apply wood stain with a paintbrush, roller, sprayer or clean cloth. After applying the stain with one of these tools (whichever you are most comfortable using) wipe the door down with a clean cloth to remove the excess stain. Work on one side of the door at a time; do not flip the door over until the first side is completely dry.
- 5
  Apply additional coats of stain as desired until you are satisfied with the color saturation. Stain both sides of the door and all of the edges using this process. Allow the stain to dry completely.
- 6
  Pour a small amount of polyurethane directly onto the door. Spread the polyurethane with a lamb's wool or foam applicator. Move the applicator using long, even, straight strokes. Overlap each stroke by about 1/2 inch to ensure full coverage. Allow the polyurethane to dry.
- 7
  Buff the polyurethane with a 400-grit piece of sandpaper. This is best done by hand, not with a powered sanding tool. You only need to lightly scuff the surface; be careful not to sand the polyurethane away. Wipe the wood with a damp cloth to remove the polyurethane dust.
- 8
  Apply up to five coats of polyurethane. Repeat this process for both sides and all edges of the door. The edges can be done while applying polyurethane to one of the sides of the door--just drag a small amount of polyurethane to the edge of the door and spread it using three or four full strokes across the edge.
- 9
  Allow the door to dry completely. Once the door is dry, you can reinstall the doorknob and any other hardware. Work with a partner to reattach the door to the hinges.

Trim Ideas for Doorways

Tips on Varnishing an Interior Door

Doors