The best clear finish for an exterior door is 3 coats of clear epoxy followed with 2 3 coats of spar varnish.
Best finish for entry door.
Entry doors are often more than just front doors those we tested can also be used in back or on the side.
From a finishing standpoint exterior doors rank right up there with decks as the most complicated surfaces to protect and maintain.
From a finishing standpoint exterior doors rank right up there with decks as the most complicated surfaces to protect and maintain as a critical high traffic barrier between the interior and exterior of a home the finish on a.
As a critical high traffic barrier between the interior and exterior of a home the finish on a.
A scott burt owner of topcoat finishes a high end residential paint company in jericho vt responds.
There are a variety of exterior wood finishes with different characteristics and properties.
Choosing an exterior wood finish.
Doors made with stable woods are less affected by humidity so they re better at holding up to the elements.
The wood you see beneath a clear finish determines whether your door s look will be rustic or refined.
Finish with the outer sections following the grain of the wood.
Good woods photo by manfred koh time inc.
Maintenance is a necessity for outdoor wood finishes.
Like the lock set you choose the best deadbolt for residential use will carry an overall grade 2 rating.
If you re adding a deadbolt to an entry door that doesn t already have one however you ll need to keep some important pointers in mind.
For a door made of pine white fir or another wood species that doesn t bleed i e gives off tinted compounds in wood called tannins go with a water based exterior paint such as behr.
If you purchase an exterior entry door handleset a deadbolt should be included.
For large exterior surfaces glossier paints are usually reserved for trim areas such as windowsills and doors as well as surfaces that may be washed frequently.
Scott burt owner of topcoat finishes a high end residential paint company in jericho vt responds.
Good exterior finishes protect the wood from these harsh conditions but will certainly fail unless they are renewed on a scheduled basis.
Q what is the best way to finish an exterior wooden door.
Normally semi gloss paint is the best choice for trim work since high gloss paints are so shiny that they highlight imperfections.
The combination has worked amazingly well for me on a west facing exterior oak door that looks as good today as it did after refinishing 7 8 years ago.
Previous varnish only finishes only lasted 2 3 years.
Wood entry door materials and finishes photo by keller keller.