Naima Manal's articles on health, diet, nutrition, alternative medicine, education, parenting, crafts, travel, home and garden and home improvement have appeared on various websites. Manal received her Bachelor of Science in biology/pre-medical studies from Molloy College in 1994 and has been a freelance writer, teacher and homeschooling mom since 1993.
SUPPLIES
- Hand sander
- Fine sandpaper
- Cloth
- Mineral spirits (optional)
- Wood stain
- Varnish or polyurethane
- Brushes
- Rubber gloves
- Goggles
- Face mask
Overview
Your wooden doors can last the life of your home or beyond. As a natural material, they have become seasoned to your home's environment -- expanding with the heat and humidity and contracting with the cold. Instead of changing them out, you can always change the appearance of your doors to update them or coordinate with your interior design plan. This is a very environmentally friendly approach to reusing and restoring your home's doors. Wooden doors may become dull over time, but a few simple fixes will restore your door to its classical beauty.
Prepare the Door
Step 1
Remove all hardware from the door, using screwdrivers or a drill to speed things up.
Step 2
Put on your face mask and gloves.
Step 3
Use mineral spirits to clean away any residues and to remove some of the old finish. Saturate a cloth with mineral spirits and wipe it on the wood in the direction of the wood grain. Turn the cloth and wipe again. Let dry. If you do not have mineral spirits, then proceed to Step 4.
Step 4
Put on your goggles and use your hand sander to sand away the door's existing finish. Sand in the direction of the wood grain of the door.
Step 5
Sand in the corners and crevices of the wooden door with a piece of sandpaper. Fold the paper in half and apply very little pressure as you move the sandpaper back and forth. Use a cloth to wipe away the dust.
Staining the Door
Step 1
Pick a wood stain that accents your current decor, making sure it matches up to any other wood surfaces in the space. If you are artistically savvy, you may be able to choose a contrasting stain that works in the space. Open the can and stir it from the bottom.
Also consider using a stain and polyurethane combination to eliminate the extra steps of applying a varnish later on.
Step 2
Dip the paintbrush into the stain and wipe the excess back into the can. Using even strokes, brush the stain or stain/polyurethane onto the door in the direction of the grain. Make sure to cover every surface, corner and crevice of the door.
Step 3
Even out your brush strokes with the paintbrush so that your stain dries nice and even. Let dry.
Applying the Finish
Step 1
Use a clean paintbrush to apply the polyurethane or varnish finish to the door, if you did not use a combination stain and polyurethane. Dip the brush into the finish and wipe the excess back into the can.
Step 2
Brush on the finish coat with light, even strokes. Use a lifting motion to brush the finish on, especially at the end to prevent brush marks in your finish. Complete the whole door. Allow to dry according to the specifications on the can.
Step 3
Replace all the door fixtures and hinge it back to your door frame. Enjoy the new look of your restored door.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : Pick up stain swatches from the store to coordinate the right stain for your wood door.
- WARNING : Work in a well-ventilated area.
Keep all stains and varnishes from children.
Resources
