Easy Process Of Refinishing & Patching A Faded Fiberglass Door
Fiberglass doors are vulnerable & susceptible to fading, particularly when they are placed under direct sunlight. In spite of the fact that you use door overhangs in order to protect fiberglass doors from fading, however, using overhangs can only help delay the color fading, eventually, your front door will look a bit dull as well as lackluster. Therefore, it is important to get rid of fading fiberglass doors & bring the life back to your front door and make it welcoming again. It is strongly suggested that you either refinish your fiberglass door if the fading is intense & extreme or patch it if in case fading is noticeable only on some parts of your door. Irrespective of what you decide to do, it is important to clean the surface of your door first with the help of a sponge and a suitable cleaner before drying it using a clean rag.
Refinishing
- Water-based Stripper
If you find that your fiberglass door has excessive fading, then refinishing your door can be the best option. In order to get rid of the old, faded finish, you need to apply a thin layer of water-based stripper before waiting for nearly an hour. - Scrape The Old Finish Using A Putty Knife
Apply the following layers, repeating this process as long as the finish begins to loosen, before scrapping it off with the help of a putty knife. - Sand The Surface Using 120-grit Sandpaper
If the surface is uneven, you need to firmly & gently sand it with the help of 120-grit sandpaper. Make sure not to sand the door to a greater degree in order to prevent releasing fiberglass particles into the air. - Clean The Surface & Apply A Layer Of Gel Stain
As soon as you are done getting rid of the finish, clean the entire surface with the help of a rag dipped in denatured alcohol. After that, apply a layer of gel stain with the help of a natural bristled paintbrush. - Apply At Least Two Layers Of Fiberglass Topcoat
This is the most important element when it comes to keeping the door from fading. As soon as the gel stain dries, you need to apply at a minimum two layers of fiberglass topcoat, & then wait for it to dry between coats.
Patching
Gel stain is thick that won’t flow when you apply it to fiberglass. Like acrylic paint, gel stain can be used to make small improvements to the appearance or finish of the faded areas. Apply the paint or gel stain with the help of a small, natural bristled paintbrush. Use a color that exactly matches or complements your fiberglass as accurately as possible. Due to the fact that fading is usually quite subtle, you will probably only need one thin layer, it may dry a different color as compared to how it looks when wet, therefore, it is important to wait before applying a second or third coat.