If you own an older home then you may be faced with the task of refinishing one or more doors. The task may seem a little daunting, but really this is not a difficult project. DIY home-improvement expert Bruce Johnson is here to see you through the steps.
Steps- Take the door off its frame and set it flat on sawhorses.
- Remove the existing hardware (knobs and hinges).
- Remove the door's existing finish. To do this, you have three options. You can use a belt sander, a paint remover or the suggested furniture refinisher. The problem with a belt sander is though it removes the finish quickly, it also takes some of the wood with it. Paint remover is fine, but you have to let it set and dry. Furniture refinisher is suggested because it removes the old finish without having to strip. Using this with a synethic scrubber will be faster and safer than the other two.
- Safety Alert: If you use a paint or furniture remover, be sure you wear safety goggles and gloves and that you are in a well ventilated area.
- Next is a final rinse. Using clean furniture refinisher and a clean rag, go over the entire door. This will dissolve any finish left on there, but won't remove the natural signs of age.
- You may want to fill in any worn holes with a natural wood filler. You'll have to let the filler set, then sand.
- Any sanding that is an absolute must...use a palm sander. This vibrates rather than rotates and won't remove too much wood. Also, use a fine grit sandpaper.
- Finally, use a semi-gloss, polyurethane varinish for a finish. This will give your door great protection, but allow the great old look to shine through.
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