Step By Step Process Of Applying Polyurethane To A Door
Irrespective of the type of Door, whether exterior or interior, it gets a lot of use in your home and due to its high-traffic use comes inevitable signs of wear and tear. A good protective sealer, such as polyurethane, will do the job that will help keep your door looking fresh as well as new by drying to a smooth, glossy and very hard finish. Applying polyurethane to a door is an easy task, however, you need to be very patient & not to rush, so allow at least a week for your project to complete. You need to take care with each step involved, which in turn will result in the smoother and more glass-like finish on your door. In order to apply polyurethane to a door, go through the below-mentioned steps carefully & achieve the desired result of your work:
- Remove The Door From Doorjamb & Sand: Firstly, mask your work surface using drop cloths in order to protect it. Pull out the door from its jamb and take out all hinges and hardware. Place the door flat on your drop cloths. Sand all sides of the door with the help of 100-grit sandpaper in order to open the grain and get rid of any surface imperfections. Go over the door again, but this time using 150-grit sandpaper and then a third time using 220-grit sandpaper.
- Vacuum The Sanding Dust: Now, vacuum clean the sanding dust using the upholstery brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner. Clean up the dust by going over all sides of the door with the help of a tack cloth. Pour a small amount of denatured alcohol onto a clean, dry shop cloth. Don’t soak the cloth, as you need it to be just barely damp. Wipe down all sides of the door in order to make sure that no dust particles, grease or oils remain.
- Thin First Coat Of Polyurethane: Make your first coat of polyurethane thin by mixing it with 2 parts of mineral spirits to 3 parts polyurethane. Stir them together lightly with the help of a paint stirrer. Never shake polyurethane, due to the reason that shaking can create bubbles. Put or spread a thin, even coat of thinned polyurethane to the top as well as the edges of your door with the help of a natural-bristled brush. Synthetic brushes have a tendency to leave visible brush marks when you are using it with polyurethane. Don’t use a roller, due to the fact that it will not go on evenly or dry smoothly.
- Allow The Polyurethane To Dry: Allow the polyurethane to dry for nearly 24 hours before flipping the door and doing the other side. Give that side at least 24 hours to dry fully. Sand the first coat of polyurethane with the help of a dampened 400-grit wet/dry sanding block. Use very light pressure before wiping the door down thoroughly using a tack cloth & then apply the second coat of polyurethane.
- Apply Second Coat Of Polyurethane Not Diluted With Mineral Spirits: Apply a second coat of polyurethane that has not been mixed with mineral spirits. Coat the top as well as sides of the door, allowing them to dry for 24 hours before coating the remaining side. Sand the second coat of polyurethane using the 400-grit wet/dry sanding block and wipe it down if you want to finish with a third undiluted coat of polyurethane. Let the door dry entirely before re-hanging it.