How to Refinish an Old Wooden Door
- 1). Brush a thick, heavy coat of chemical stripper on the wooden door. Allow the stripper to sit on the door for the length of time recommended by the manufacturer, or at least until the old finish begins to peel.
- 2). Remove the old finish from the wooden door by scraping it off with a putty knife and scrubbing it with steel wool in stubborn spots. Wipe the wooden door with a damp cloth to remove traces of chemical stripper.
- 3). Sand the wooden door with 120 grit sandpaper to remove the last bits of old finish and roughen the wood. Wipe the door with a tack cloth to clean off sawdust. Sand again with 220 grit sandpaper to smooth the wood. Wipe the door with the tack cloth.
- 4). Brush a heavy coat of sanding sealer onto the wooden door to ensure the new finish absorbs into the wood without splotching. Allow the sealer to sink into the wood, and wipe off excess with a cloth. Allow the sealer to completely dry, and lightly sand with 220 grit sandpaper.
- 5). Brush a coat of stain onto the wood to create a new finish. Allow the stain to sit on the wood and be absorbed into the wood. Wipe off excess stain before it dries. Allow the stain to completely dry.
- 6). Brush a light, thin coat of polyurethane onto the wooden door to seal the wood. Allow the polyurethane to dry. Lightly sand the wooden door with 220 grit sandpaper. Wipe the door clean. Brush on another light coat of polyurethane and allow it to dry completely.
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