Behind The Red Door

Tips on Sanding and Refinishing a Wooden Door at Home

• First Decide whether or not to remove the door from it’s Hinges

We had a lot of fun in the sun refinishing this oak panel door .

It was a hot day in July when we started and it only proved to get hotter! Sweat dripped from every pore while sanding this door by hand..

As I stood in the sun chugging liters of water by the hour, I remembered the old lineman saying,

“Don’t drink more than you sweat, because we ain’t got time to piss today, boys!”

• We chose to refinish the door in-situ

This project was especially challenging as we did it without removing the door from it’s hinges! It looks easy, until you try it, but, hey, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it…

If we had our druthers (and believe me we love druthers) we would remove the door completely from it’s hinges and hardware to sand and stain on sawhorses. This provides more time and control over applying the new finish.

• Preparing the door carefully for painting or sanding is key!

We used our 20v Dewalt cordless random orbit sander with 80 grit sandpaper to remove the bulk of the old stain but the old adage that man cannot be replaced by machines proved to be true when it came to the hours of sanding by hand. Getting into the grooves of the custom built molding and trim around the stained glass windows of both the door and the side panels of the entryway.

This required some ingenuity as even my trusty old Gator sanding sponges do not always reach into each and every nook and cranny. I resorted to folding a piece of 120 grit around my old debit card and working it right into the grooves.

• Preparation pays off when it comes time to paint or stain!

This door was well cared for to begin with and we kept up the good work. Changing to a solid color Benjamin Moore stain after sanding down to bare wood to change the curb appeal!

It was a bold decision by the homeowner and it paid off! Check out the contrast in colors and beautiful look due to the beautiful eye of the designer.

The door casing and trim was also scuffed up and sanded down and refinished in a classic flat white tone rolled on by yours truly and supplied by Benjamin Moore, Purchased at the still standing and well known landmark of home improvement enthusiasts around the great state of New Hampshire. Rocky’s Ace Hardware, on Loudon Road, Concord, NH.

We took the time and care to do it right and the homeowners rewarded us with their smiles!

This door should stay functional and appealing for years to come.

It was a chore of passion and I put my all into the work as I always do!

Our Northern NH office suite is located near downtown Concord NH, Only a hop skip and a jump from RevelStoke Cafe

Check it out!

Tools We Used To Refinish This Old Door

• Screwdrivers– flat head and phillips
• Dewalt cordless random orbit sander
• Sanding Blocks
• 1/4 inch nap foam paint rollers
• Purdy Paint brushes 1 1/2. 2 and 4 inches
• Drop Cloths and Tape
• Dewalt Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum
• Sweat Equity