I am going to show you how I stained my front door with Gel Stain. Update: It has been stained over four years and the door still looks great!
I had not realized how bad our front door was looking until I made a fall wreath and took a picture of it for my blog.
When I uploaded the picture, I realized the door was so ugly, I could not possibly put the picture on my blog. So my husband and I went front door shopping and I was surprised how much a new door would cost us. Here’s my problem, when I find out a price for something, I think of all the things I want that cost the same, and I usually go back home and try to make it better without purchasing the item new. I am saving up for new kitchen countertops, so I am prepared to work on that door!
Our house was built in the early ’90s. We restained the door about 8 years ago. We had taken the door off the hinges, laid it across two sawhorses, sanded, and stained the door while it was laying flat.
The day that I was going to purchase my stain, I saw this post from MaryAnn at Domestically Speaking Gel Stained Front Door. Her instructions for using Gel Stain seemed so much easier than the way I was going to do the project.
I purchased the Miniwax Gel Stain in the color Hickory. The best part of this project was that I did not have to remove the door so I was not in a rush to get my front door back on the hinges before nighttime.
Instructions
Sand the door well using a palm sander. You can use a staining block to get in the grooves.
After sanding, clean the door with soap and water. After drying, wipe the door down with a tack cloth or damp rag.
I have learned from all my diy projects that using a tack cloth helps get up all the sanding dust that is left even after cleaning with soap and water.
Use a foam brush or rag to apply the stain and stain according to manufacturers suggestions.
The directions on the can say to wipe off, but I did not. I applied two coats and it looked beautiful.
The directions also say to use Miniwax Helmsman Spar Urethane for the topcoat to protect the door. I waited a few days after the stain dried to apply the topcoat with a foam brush.
I think my Gel Stained front door looks so good and I did not have to purchase a new front door. Update: It has been over 4 years and the door still looks great. I am so happy with the door that I do not have the desire to purchase a new door.