Q&A for How to Stain Wood Doors

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Can I stain a wooden door without sanding it?

Andres Matheu
Commercial Painter
Andres Matheu is the Owner of Hömm Certified Painting Systems, an Interior and Exterior Residential painting business based in the Washington, DC Metro area. Andres specializes in interior and exterior residential painting, color consultations, cabinet refinishing, wallpaper removal, and epoxy flooring among other services. An EPA Lead-safe Certified Firm, Hömm Certified Painting Systems has been awarded the Best of Houzz 2019 Service, Angie's List Super Service Award 2019, and Northern Virginia Magazine's 2018 Best Home Experts (painters) award.

Andres Matheu

Commercial Painter

Expert Answer

You should always sand a door before you stain it, or else the color won't adhere properly.

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Question

Why remove the door from the hinges to stain?

Community Answer

The real or main reason is so you can polyurethane or seal all 6 sides. You really want to seal the top and bottom edges of the door as well as under the hinges to avoid swelling in times of high humidity. Do the door jamb too. Doors that stick occasionally are doors that were finished or re-finished while still on the hinges.

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Question

What type of stain is good for wood exterior doors and should I use a primer before staining?

Community Answer

The best and only good one that I've found is One-Time Wood Protector. It comes in different colors and is a 1-step application every 7 years. Go with One-Time even if you have to first apply another stain to obtain the look you're after. Wood conditioner is almost never needed, but you can absolutely apply it before anything else and it won't harm anything. Do not use paint primer.

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Question

Do I need to take the hinges off the wood door before I stain it?

Chaisty Jones

Community Answer

Yes. If you don't, you will run into issues when it gets warm and the door swells.

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Question

How do I finish plastic doors that have a wood grain?

Community Answer

Sand them down, use a good primer, and then paint. Make sure the primer and paint are appropriate for plastic surfaces. Wood stains and some paints won't adhere to the plastic properly.

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