Best Tips To Use When Refinishing Your Wood Door | Billy.com

Your home’s front door is the entrance to your humble abode, the gateway to your haven. Often, homeowners can overlook it while renovating or upgrading their front porch. The truth is front door entrances are just as important as the rest of your home’s exterior and can stick out like a sore thumb when left neglected. In this article, you’ll delve into a world of inspiration with these best tips to consider when refinishing your wood door that will give it a much-needed facelift.

Remove the Door From the Hinges

Removing your door allows you to work on your project comfortably. You’ll need a hammer and nail to remove it from the hinges effectively. Feel free to have someone help you with this, especially when dealing with antique wooden doors, as these are heavier than modern makes.

Remove the Lock and Handle

Unscrewing the lock and handle allows you to access every nook and cranny without worrying about damaging the hardware. It also promotes uniform results!

Prepare Your Canvas

First and foremost, you’ll want to sand your front door with a coarse grit sanding paper to get rid of existing paint and finishes and debris that could impact the finished results. Next, use a medium grit, then a fine grit to sand away as the door’s original color shines through.

Remember that doors have many grooves and edges that you’ll want to pay close attention to during the sanding stage. Once that’s done, you can wipe away the sanding dust with a soft cloth and get ready for painting.

Apply the Finish of Choice

Now, this is where things can get tricky: are you painting or re-staining your door? If you choose to paint, primer is an essential prepping step that you won’t want to skip. Primer will ensure that moisture stays trapped in the wood and doesn’t affect the finished appearance of your project.

When re-staining a wooden door, consider a weather-resistant varnish that brings out your door’s wooden features. You can start with the details, then work your way to the flat surfaces.

Whatever your choice, remember to paint the top and bottom edges, then reattach the door to its frame.

Sand Again, Then Reapply Finish

You’ll sand your front door at least twice before admiring your hard work. Additional sanding will ensure even coating and a cleaner look.

Reattach the Hardware

Once you’ve allowed your door to dry, you can reattach the lock and levers, and you’ve completed the job!

While it’s an extensive process that requires patience, following these tips to use when refinishing your wood door gives you direction to completing your project. Now, all there’s left to do is to stand back and admire your work.