Have a wooden door that needs a new coat of paint or just a new look? Instead of purchasing a new door, refurbish a door you already have to save money.

To refurbish a wooden door, you will need the following supplies (depending on how you want to refurbish it):

• cleaning supplies (window cleaner, vinegar and water solution, gentle soap)
• rags
• painter’s tape
• newspaper
• screw driver
• paint remover
• wood filler and/or putty

• sandpaper or liquid sandpaper
• primer and paint, or
• pre-stain conditioner, stain and polyurethane

Clean

Before you begin refurbishing your wooden door, remove any dirt, dust or cobwebs. Don’t worry about scuffs, markings or stains.

• If your door leads to the outside, thoroughly clean the side facing the outdoors with a brush and a gentle cleanser to remove any dirt, mold or other outdoor residue. After the door is clean, rinse off any soap with a clean, wet rag or hose. You can also use a pressure washer to remove any aggressive stains or mold.
   
• If your door is only indoors, gently remove any dust, dirt or cobwebs with a soft-bristle brush (such as a tooth brush), rag and/or sponge and a gentle cleanser or a solution of water and vinegar. Wipe down the entire door with a damp rag or sponge to remove any soap.

After cleaning the door, let it dry completely. If using a hose or pressure washer, this may take a day or so. Just make sure the door is no longer damp before continuing on with the refurbishing process.

Prep

After cleaning the door, prep the door for refurbishing by taping off any windows, peep holes or non-removable hardware. Apply newspaper over these items and cover with painter’s tape to protect them from chemicals, paint or stain.

If your door has any knobs, hinges or knockers, carefully remove the hardware with a screwdriver and set aside.

Remove Old Paint or Varnish

If your door has several coats of old paint and/or varnish, strip these old layers so you can start fresh and to give you the best finish. However, before removing any old paint or varnish, make sure none of the old paint is lead-based (if the door existed before 1978, you must check for lead paint).

To check the door for lead paint, purchase a lead paint test kit and test the paint based on the kit instructions.

If the test kit indicates the door has lead paint, you must remove the lead paint properly or dispose of the door. Sometimes the cost of removing lead paint outweighs the cost of purchasing a new door, so it is up to you whether you want to invest the money into refurbishing your door or purchasing a new one.

In all cases where lead paint is detected, be very careful in handling the door and dispose of it based on your local waste disposal guidelines.

After you have determined there is no lead paint on your door, use one of the following to remove the old paint or varnish:

• paint stripper
• electric sander
• sandblaster
• scraper

For more ideas and which methods are the safest for your type of paint, refer to Safe Methods to Remove Paint for more information.

Repair Dents and Cracks

Removing the old paint and/or varnish will give you a clean slate to work with; however, you may now notice all of the dents and/or cracks in the wood.

Before painting, repair these damaged areas to prevent further damage to the wood and to make sure your finished door looks its best.

• If the crack or dent is small, use wood filler to fill in the cracks or uneven surface.
• If the crack or dent is large, use wood putty to fill in the crack or uneven surface.

Apply the wood filler or putty with a putty knife and even out the surface as best as you can. Then, let the filler and/or putty dry before continuing on with the refurbishing process.

Sand Surface

After repairing all the dents and cracks in the door, sand the entire door with sandpaper. This will even out the surface of the wood and remove any excess wood filler or putty. Refer to How to Sand Wood for detailed instructions on sanding wood.

Use a vacuum with an attachment or a damp rag to remove all of the sanding dust. This is a very important step before you begin the painting or staining process.

Paint or Stain

Before painting or staining, make sure you know what kind of paint or stain you want to use:

• If your door faces outside, pick out an outdoor primer and paint or stain for the side that faces outside and an indoor primer and paint or stain for the side that faces inside (e.g., a front door). The two paints or stains could be the same color or different; it is up to you whether you want both sides of your door to be the same color.
   
• If your door is indoor only, such as a bedroom door, pick out a primer and paint or stain that is for indoor use.

Also, try to pick a primer and paint or stain that works well with wood.

• Painting - If painting your door, apply a primer first in multiple thin coats. After the primer dries, apply multiple thin coats of paint. You can use a paint sprayer, roller or brush to apply the paint.
   
• Staining - If staining your door, apply a pre-stain conditioner and let it dry thoroughly. After the pre-stain conditioner dries, apply the stain based on the instructions on the container. To complete the staining process, apply polyurethane to seal the stain.

Refurbish Hardware

If you removed any hardware during the prep phase, take a look at the hardware and decide whether you also want to refurbish these items or purchase new ones. Refer to How to Refurbish Hardware for more information.