High-quality, solid oak doors are so durable and reliable that they will last decades. This means they will inevitably see the coming and going of many trends and interior design fads, which also means that they will be revamped and refinished multiple times over their lifespan.
This is great! Maria from Doors Galore says “These oak doors can last a lifetime and are bound to need some touch-ups every now and then.” To ensure that your doors continue to serve you well in the years and decades to come, be sure to take the proper steps while revamping to protect the integrity of the door itself. Also, always remember to protect yourself in the process. What painting techniques do you need to know to effectively revamp your oak doors?
Back to Basics (Strip the Door): You will very rarely run into an installed oak door that is unfinished. They will all have been stained, varnished or painted prior to installation. For those who are revamping these types of doors, these oil-based paints and finishes need to be stripped or removed before beginning the next phase of the project. You can use a chemical/solvent stripper for this job, which can then be scraped off with a scraping tool. You may also use a hot air gun to get a similar result, although this step carries more risks and should be done with caution.
A New Start (Sand and Fill the Door): Once the door is stripped, it needs to be sanded and filled to return the surface to a nice, smooth finish. If you are going to be staining or varnishing the door, be sure to use a colour-match fill to ensure maximum blending. Sand the door with increasing levels of grit, from 120 up to 240 or more, being sure to get into the crevices and cracks and all the details of the door. Always wear a dust mask when sanding and use a tack cloth to remove any leftover dust after you have cleaned the door after sanding.
A New Look (Paint the Door): For anyone who is painting their oak doors, be sure that the door is ready for paint by checking that the surface of the door is smooth and that all the cracks are filled. Painting the door can be challenging but if done with patience and diligence, your oak door can look like new in no time at all. Paint your doors accordingly, depending on the style of the door. For panelled doors, paint the panels first, followed by the verticals and finally the cross sections. Glass doors are done by protecting the glass with tape and painting the moulding first, followed by the horizontals and next, the verticals, being sure to feather the paint in as you go. Give the appropriate drying time as per the manufacturer’s recommendation and do a second coat if necessary.
Bring Back the Beauty (Varnish or Stain the Door): Stains and varnishes are applied similarly and should be started by taking a tack cloth over the door to make sure the surface is ready for staining. Use a brush to apply the stain evenly over the door panels or sections and work quickly to avoid uneven application of the product. Avoid overlapping strokes as well. Wipe with a clean cloth to absorb excess stain. If you are varnishing, wait until the stain is dry to apply the varnish, following the same application steps as for the stain. After drying, give a light rub with a high grit sandpaper before applying a second coat.
Revamped Oak Doors: Beauty in the Making
Bring out the beauty in your old oak doors by revamping them with paint or stain. Use these techniques to get a second (or third or fourth) life out of your doors and let them continue to serve you well for years to come.