Make a Wood Door Look Good Again

This easy DIY for How to Restain a Door without stripping it or fifty-fifty removing it gives your abode huge curb entreatment in less than a mean solar day!

How to Restain A Door Without Removing It

If you lot want to know how to refinish a weathered forepart door, I accept a quick solution that'll work for most stained wood front doors.

You tin can give your dry and sun-bleached wood door a quick & like shooting fish in a barrel makeover in less than a twenty-four hour period. AND you don't have to strip any of the sometime stain off or even remove the door.

Even if the old cease is starting to crack and pare, this'll piece of work! Only a quick cleaning & sanding and your ready to outset applying the new finish.

I had this door cleaned, sanded, stained twice, and dry in less than viii hours. Yippee!

Here'due south a before and after of my weathered front door. That new stain was a huge comeback!

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I only needed to practice the outside of the door, so I picked a cool spring day and just did all of the work with the door open and still on the hinges.

Tabular array of contents

• How to Restain A Door Without Removing It
• Tin You Stain Over Old Stain On A Door
• Can You Stain A Door While Information technology's Hanging
• How to Stain a Door While It's Hanging
  • Before Yous Start
  • Materials to Stain a Front Door Again
• DIY Steps to Restain a Wood Door
  • Step One
  • Stride Two
  • Step Three
  • Step Four
  • Pace Five
  • Step Six
  • Step Seven
  • Step 8
  • Pace Nine
  • Step Ten
  • Footstep Eleven
  • Another Choice for Staining a Door
• How to Protect Your Front Door from Sun Harm
  • UPDATE 18 MONTHS Later

Before following these steps for how to restain a door without removing it, our front door was really making our firm expect sad.

A closer look at the uneven stain colour on our front door.

Quick Note: I take not been paid for this post or given any product. I just love testing and trying new stains.

I picked this one upward for a recent project and knew it would piece of work perfectly on my door. In fact, I'm pretty sure the professional person painters I hired to do this door 3 years agone used this product.

The finish is much thicker and less transparent than a stain alone. I wanted to refinish my door with a product that was thick enough to requite the door a uniform colour and thick protective finish.

The lord's day had bleached parts of the door more than than others. This product covered up those light spots perfectly! AND it filled in some hairline cracks in the 30 year old molding. Yea!

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Can You Stain Over Old Stain On A Door

Yep, you lot tin stain over quondam stain on a door. Gel Stains are a expert product to use when you want to stain over wood that already has stain on information technology. Gel Stains don't soak into woods, they sit on top of it. So, information technology can be applied over old stains.

Just, with gel stains you'll need to choice a stain colour that is as dark every bit or darker than the existing stop. A gel stain can't really make your door wait lighter than the old stain finish.

You'll have to strip the sometime terminate if you want to utilise a lighter forest stain.

Gel stains cover over old stain because they are less opaque than a wood stain that soaks into the wood. Since they are less opaque, you won't be able to see as much of the wood grain. Only, information technology will still have a beautiful wood look.

As with most things, there are quite a few means to stain over old stain. I have steps beneath for how I did information technology with a product chosen PolyShades.

Just, there are a lot of products that will piece of work. Simply be sure to research the product, read the reviews, and to always follow the safety guidelines and product instructions.

Can You Stain A Door While It'due south Hanging

Yeah, you tin can stain a door while it's hanging. But you have to exist sure to use the correct products. Y'all also accept to keep checking for drips that can happen when y'all utilise thick finishes on a door that is yet hanging.

If you want to stain a door while it's hanging, I have the exact steps to do that below.

Simply it does take extra planning, extra time spent checking for drips, and you'll have to leave the door open long enough for the cease to dry out. Then, y'all need to pick a adept conditions day to stain your wood door.

How to Stain a Door While It's Hanging

Earlier You Get-go

First, let'due south talk about what you need to know for how to restain a door without removing it. If you leave the door on the hinges, make sure it's not going to pelting on your wet door.

Avoid doing this on a humid day also. Yous don't desire to accidentally trap moisture in the wood.

AND know that if the sun is shining direct on the door, or if it is hot outside, the stain will dry faster. So, you'll have to exist conscientious and piece of work speedily.

Every two to 3 years this door gets this dried, sun-bleached, and cracking wait. The Texas sunday just beats on it!

Please note, this product is a stain & polyurethane in one. It is a thick oil based product. Normal stains or water-based poly'south are much thinner and easier to work with.

I picked this product for 4 major reasons: one. Information technology provides a thick protective finish, two. The color is compatible over bleached wood, three. Yous don't need to employ poly afterwords, and 4. You don't have to strip your woods door first!

If applied with a brush, per instructions, information technology leaves a finish somewhere between a Satin and a Semi-Gloss. Because it is thick and only semi-transparent it will not show wood grain as much as a stain.

If you want your grain to show, you might want to use something else.

And so, allow me prove you how to restain a door with this quick and easy DIY! Permit'south start with what you need.

Materials to Stain a Forepart Door Again

• Stain & Polyurethane One Step Product, I used Mission Oak in Satin
• A skillful Nylon Brush
• A clean, lint-costless rag and wood cleaner like TSP or my DIY Wood Cleaner
• Nitrile Gloves
• Drib Cloth
• 120-grit sandpaper
• Mineral Spirits to clean the brush

DIY Steps to Restain a Wood Door

Step Ane

Open your door wide enough to exist able to utilise the finish to every spot. I put a chair behind my door to go along information technology from moving while I worked.

If the sun is shining on your door, you want to wait until it passes or open up the door wide enough to become it out of the sun. The sun will dry out the product much faster and may cause a blotchy look.

Step Two

Put a drop cloth down to protect your floors.

Step Three

Use wood cleaner to clean all clay, crud, oils, and bird poo off the door.  😉

Pace Four

One time it has completely stale, sand the entire door lightly with 120-grit sandpaper. Any erstwhile finish that is cracked or peeling should be removed and smoothed before applying the new finish.

Stride Five

Wipe the dust from the door with a slightly clammy rag.

Step Six

Once the door is clean and dry out over again, apply Polyshades per instructions on the container. I used a brush and applied the beginning coat to but the molding first. Working on small-scale sections makes it easier to get an fifty-fifty cease.

Pace Seven

At present, keep checking for drips. Don't skip this footstep for how to restain a door!

This product is thick and tin slowly brand drips in areas that got besides much product. I just checked the door every ten minutes or and so while it was drying.

I used a damp paper towel to smooth out any drips that I institute. Simply lightly drag the wet towel beyond the drip to shine it out.

Step 8

Once the molding wasn't tacky anymore, I worked from the top of the door downwardly to utilize the kickoff coat on the rest of the door. I was careful while working around my door handle. You could use painter'due south record to protect yours.

Stride Nine

Apply a second coat using steps 7 and 8, after the first coat dries. Recollect to always check for drips.

Pace 10

As mentioned higher up, I skipped this, merely an exterior form meridian coat like Spar Urethane would exist the best pick to protect the Polyshades finish. Follow the directions on the container for the all-time effect.

Step Eleven

Preserve the terminate every four to 6 months with Howard Outdoor Furniture SunShield Wax.

Here's a look at that door at present! I beloved how rich and thick that finish looks now.

That's it, that'south how to restain a door without removing it!

But leave that door open for 5 to 6 hours after the second coat to be completely sure it is cured enough to close.

Another Option for Staining a Door

I ALSO LOVE Old MASTERS Stop on Exterior Doors. Check out this post on how to Stain A Door Without Taking It Down for a very like tutorial using Old Masters and a different top coat.

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Keep reading to meet how I am keeping that door looking shiny and protected from the sun with 1 piece of cake wipe on product.

Here's a close up look at the finished front end door! These steps for how to restain a door without removing it are a game changer and will easily save me hundreds of dollars every two years to rent a painter. 🙂

How to Protect Your Front Door from Sun Damage

After post-obit the steps to restain your door, y'all could apply an exterior grade finish over your door to give it some UV protection against the sun. I decided not to.

I wanted to see how the PolyShades would concur up in the hot Texas sun without actress protection.

Subsequently tons of research on professional person painting sites, I'm pretty certain that any stain with or without UV protection would need to accept maintenance coats applied every yr or two.

My door gets so much sunday, I need to apply i refresh coat every two years whether it's an outside or interior grade finish.

Acrylic outside paints offer much meliorate UV protection than stains. My HOA doesn't let us to pigment our doors. Merely if they did, I'd definitely go with a paint that I could apply and forget about for 5 to 10 years. Oh well.

UPDATE 18 MONTHS Afterward

I institute a UV Protective Wax that I love, love, beloved over this gel stain. And so, xviii months after using the PolyShades stain I started seeing some drying and a hazy expect on the door.

I applied Howard Outdoor Piece of furniture Sunshield with a rag on to the door (took about xv minutes) and it looks a-mazing again.

Just like the starting time day I applied the stain. So, I'll be using SunShield most every half dozen months to protect and preserve the stain.

You lot can encounter the before and afterwards pics for this fix for a Sunday-Damaged, Dry Wood Front Door here. Or watch this quick video to meet how Sunshield is Saving the Finish on My Forepart Door!

Restore a Wood Front Door - Quick DIY Fix for Sun Damaged, Dry Wood Front end Door

AND, If y'all make up one's mind you'd rather strip your front door and start fresh, you tin find my piece of cake DIY steps to stripping wood hither. 🙂

Well, that's it for how to restain a door without removing it. You might like this printable version of the steps to brand your DIY a little easier.

Instructions

1. Open your door broad enough to be able to employ the finish to every spot. I put a chair behind my door to keep it from moving while I worked. If the sun is shining on your door, you lot may desire to await until information technology passes or open the door broad enough to get information technology out of the sun. The lord's day will dry out the product much faster.
2. Put a dropcloth down to protect your floors.
3. Use wood cleaner to make clean all dirt, grime, oils, and bird poo off the door.
4. Once it has completely stale, sand the entire door lightly with 120-dust sandpaper. Whatever old finish that is croaky or peeling should be removed and smoothed before applying the new stop.
5. Wipe the dust from the door with a slightly clammy rag.
6. Once the door is clean and dry out once more, apply Polyshades per instructions on the container. I used a brush and applied the offset coat to just the molding first. Working on small sections makes it easier to go an even finish.
7. Now,go along checking for drips. Don't skip this step for how to restain a door! This product is thick and can slowly make drips in areas that got as well much product. I but checked the door every ten minutes or so while it was drying. I used a damp paper towel to smooth out any drips that I institute. Simply lightly drag the wet towel across the drip to smooth it out.
8. Once the molding wasn't tacky anymore, I worked from the top of the door down to use the first glaze on the rest of the door. I was careful while working around my door handle. You could use painter's tape to protect yours.
9. Apply a 2nd coat using steps 7 and viii, after the commencement coat dries. Remember to always check for drips.
10. Equally mentioned above, I skipped this, but an exterior form tiptop coat similar Spar Urethane would be the all-time choice to protect the Polyshades terminate. Follow the directions on the container for the best result.
11. Preserve the terminate every 4 to six months with Howard Outdoor Furniture SunShield Wax.

Notes

First, permit's talk most what yous need to know for how to restain a door without removing information technology.

If you lot go out the door on the hinges, make sure it'southward non going to rain on your wet door. Avoid doing this on a humid day too. You don't want to accidentally trap moisture in the wood. AND know that if the sun is shining directly on the door, or if information technology is hot outside, the stain will dry faster. So, y'all'll have to be careful and work apace.

Delight note, this product is a stain & polyurethane in one. It is a thick oil based production. Normal stains or water-based poly's are much thinner and easier to work with.

I picked this product for four major reasons: 1. It provides a thick protective finish, 2. The colour is compatible over bleached wood, 3. You don't need to utilize poly afterwords, and 4.You don't have to strip your wood door first!

Ane final note earlier I tell you how to restain a door, you could apply an exterior grade end over this to give it some UV protection against the sun. I decided not to. I desire to run into how this holds upward in the hot Texas sunday.

Later tons of research on professional painting sites, I'grand pretty sure that any stain with or without UV protection would need to have maintenance coats practical every year or ii.

UPDATE 18 MONTHS Later on: I found a UV Protective Wax that I love, love, dearest over this gel stain. So, eighteen months after using the polyshades stain I started seeing some drying and a hazy expect on the door.

I applied Howard Outdoor Article of furniture Sunshield with a rag on to the door (took about fifteen minutes) and information technology looks a-mazing again. Sentry the video below to see how quickly this stuff restores shine and gets rid of rut haze.

Looking for some other Easy Abode Maintenance Project? You can Restore your Grout to Like New and this product seals grout also. Yay! Sentinel the quick video to see how easy it is, then click here to encounter the Grout Restoring Tutorial.

And, here are iii piece of cake DIY Steps to increase that front door security.

Here's How to Clean Machine Seats At Home, the like shooting fish in a barrel way. This is a-mazing!

Meet how easy it is to Clean Marble Tile in a Shower here.

Or check out this easy DIY guidelight upgrade that works on whatsoever outlets No wiring or electricians needed!!

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Feeling inspired? Now that you know how to restain a door, get to it! Have fun and let me know if yous have questions. Don't forget to sign up for the Abbotts At Dwelling electronic mail newsletter to go DIY, Remodeling, and Crafty ideas in your inbox.

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