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Fitting a Door Main Page

Finishing the door

• Doors are supplied sanded ready for finishing, but sand your door by hand to remove any surface blemishes or scuffs the door may have received while being fitted.
  
• Always sand a door in the direction of the grain to avoid leaving scratches on he surface of the wood.
  
• Protect a hardwood door with an exterior wood finish such as yacht varnish or suitable wood stain. Apply three coats to all surfaces, including the edges, and make sure end grain is adequately coated with varnish. Rub down between coats with fine silicon-carbide abrasive paper.
  
• Before priming a new softwood door, coat knots with shellac-based knotting to prevent resin bleeding through the paintwork.
  
• Most softwood doors are pre-treated with preservative. If not, apply a clear wood preserver to all surfaces, taking extra care to treat end grain.
  
• To darken and enhance the natural grain of the wood, apply two or three coats of exterior wood stain.
  
• For a painted finish, apply a good quality primer to the bare wood, followed by two coats of undercoat and finally a top coat. Rub down between coats with silicon-carbide paper to achieve a fine varnish.
  
• Paint or varnish your front door every two or three years to maintain a good protective finish. If you live on the coast in exposed conditions this may require more regular attention.
  
• Choose the door knob, numerals, letter box and other items of door furniture to suit the age and style of your house - mask the door with a shaped card template when polishing brass door fittings.