How Do You Restore Exterior Wood Doors?
If your front door makes the house’s exterior look as dull and gray as its weathered wood but is an odd size, a replacement could cost $800 or more. Restore the existing wood door in a single weekend for hundreds less. Prepare the sawhorses or workbench by covering them with an old blanket or other padding to protect the interior surface of the door from damage. Use a hammer and screwdriver to remove the hinge pins. Free the door and lay it exterior side up on the work surface. Remove the old hardware and sand the old finish off with 80-grit sandpaper. Inspect the door for any cracks and gouges and fill them with wood putty. Smooth with a putty knife and allow the putty to dry thoroughly. Smooth the door with 120-grit sandpaper and finish preparing the wood by sanding with 150-grit sandpaper. Apply stain to the door with a paint brush and let it dry. Follow with two coats of exterior polyurethane to protect the wood from weather damage. Allow the polyurethane to dry, according to packa
