How to Restore Wooden Doors
- 1
Paint can add a lot of character to your door.door 4 image by Dusan Radivojevic from Fotolia.com
Remove the door by taking out the hinge pins. Put your drop cloths under the sawhorses and lay the door flat between the two sawhorses. Remove the hardware. - 2
Restoring a door can make your home more inviting.creeky crackled door image by Lauren Ingro from Fotolia.com
Strip the paint with a paint stripper (follow the manufacturer’s instructions) if the door is painted. If the door is stained, use a palm sander with fine-grit sandpaper (220 or 240) and lightly sand the door. Brush off the dust with a bench brush and wipe the door with a tack cloth. If you’re staining, go to step 6. - 3). Scrape off the paint after leaving the stripping compound on for the appropriate length of time (follow the directions on the label) using a scraper tool. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the wood is exposed.
- 4). Neutralize the paint stripper as directed on the paint stripper neutralizer instructions.
- 5
Painting wooden doors gives you a lot of options for adding color.two doors image by nw7.eu from Fotolia.com
Sand the door to remove the last bits of paint and smooth out any rough spots. Brush off the dust with a bench brush and wipe the door with a tack cloth. - 6). Inspect the wood for areas of damage. Remove any rotted areas or old wood filler with a chisel or scraper and apply a wood stabilizer, following the instructions on the label.
- 7). Condition the wood with a wood conditioner (follow the directions on the label) if you’re staining. If you’re painting, apply a coat of primer to the door. Let dry. If the primer doesn’t cover well, lightly sand the door with a fine-grit sand paper (220 or 240-grit), remove the dust and apply a second coat. Let dry.
- 8). Lightly sand the conditioned or primed wood with fine-grit sandpaper and remove all the dust.
- 9). Apply two coats of enamel or stain, sanding lightly, removing the dust and drying completely in between coats.
- 10
Interesting hardware can liven up your entryway.lion's head door knocker extra large and old image by Stephen Orsillo from Fotolia.com
Apply at least two coats of high-quality marine or spar varnish if you’re staining an outside door. Replace the door hardware and remount your door.
