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.
Best finish for wood front door.
Film finishes especially better quality ones that flex after curing best protect wood from moisture.
When the door is ready for finishing stain it if desired by brushing or wiping the stain on then removing the excess with a clean rag after it has been allowed to soak in for a few minutes.
The best clear finish for an exterior door is 3 coats of clear epoxy followed with 2 3 coats of spar varnish.
Oil finishes don t provide a protective film that sits on top of the wood like varnish does.
Dyes impart some color to the finish but do little to block uv rays.
A scott burt owner of topcoat finishes a high end residential paint company in jericho vt responds.
The varnish and paint on the bottom third of the door is crackling.
I have researched to find the best finish that has uv protection mildewcide is easily applied.
From a finishing standpoint exterior doors rank right up there with decks as the most complicated surfaces to protect and maintain.
For best results use a quality brush or apply the finish with a sprayer.
Doors made with stable woods are less affected by humidity so they re better at holding up to the elements.
Good woods photo by manfred koh time inc.
I mainly looked at three products waterlox marine finish sikkens cetol and watco exterior wood finish.
On the downside it will only give you about a year of protection from the ravages of outdoor life.
Nothing blocks uv rays better than pigments.
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.
Once damaged wood fibers separate from the underlying wood taking the finish with them.
The wood you see beneath a clear finish determines whether your door s look will be rustic or refined.
Scott burt owner of topcoat finishes a high end residential paint company in jericho vt responds.
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.
Finish with the outer sections following the grain of the wood.
Allow the door to dry for an hour or two check the instructions on the paint can then apply a second coat.
Next finish the door with uv resistant exterior polyurethane.
An exterior oil finish is definitely the simplest quickest way to treat an outdoor project.
What is the best way to finish an exterior wooden door.