How to Refinish Wood Exterior Doors
- 1). Take the door off its hinges by tapping out the hinge pins. Set the door on a padded sawhorse and remove all locks and hardware. To remove the lock, look for a small set screw on the handle or trim. You may need to move the cover plates (surrounding the base of the handles or knobs) first by twisting them away from the door.
- 2). Use a random orbital sander with a 80-grit pad to sand all flat surfaces on both sides of the door. Repeat this process using a 100-grit pad, then repeat again using a 120-grit pad.
- 3). Scrape moldings and trim using a hand scraper. Work gently in the direction of the grain to avoid gouging the wood. You may need to use a variety of different blades, depending on the profiles of the molding.
- 4). Hand sand any remaining spots using an 80-grit piece of sandpaper. Work in one direction only, staying with the grain of the wood as much as possible. Make sure to sand the edges of the door along with the two faces.
- 5). Clean all sanding dust using a vacuum or brush. Wipe the door with a tack cloth to remove any remaining particles of dust.
- 6). Refinish the four edges of the door using paint or varnish as desired. Paint will require a primer, while varnish does not. Allow primer to dry completely before painting over top. Choose an enamel paint designed for outdoor use or an exterior varnish with added-UV protection. Once all four edges are dry, rehang the door on its hinges before refinishing the faces.
- 7). Paint or varnish the two faces of the door using a high-quality bristle brush. Allow the first coat to dry overnight, and then lightly sand the surface of the door by hand. Do not sand all the way through the first coat of paint or varnish. Clean away all sanding dust and apply the second and final coat of paint or varnish.
- 8). Allow the door to dry overnight before re-installing hardware to complete the project.
