Step By Step Process Of Refinishing A Fiberglass Door
Refinishing fiberglass doors is not an easy task to perform due to the reason that there are simply so many aspects to a door. When you are looking to refinish the fiberglass door, the door itself is not the only part, you must also take into consideration all that surrounds the door in order to ensure it looks just right and functions properly. A door is usually exposed to all the elements, such as burning heat, pouring rain, blowing winds, or freezing snow, unlike many parts of a home. Therefore, the door has to be finished when it comes to making it withstand all that it will be exposed to.
Thing's You Will Need
- Painter's Tape
- Plastic Sheets
- Paint, Stain & Sandpaper
- Mineral Spirits Or Paint Thinner
- Cloths, Paintbrushes & primer
- Clear lacquer & Screwdriver
Step 1: Well-Ventilated Work Space
It is highly recommended that your working area should be well-ventilated. So, you can try to work outside, or in an open shed or garage. You will be working with a lot of chemicals as well as dust, therefore, it is important to work somewhere that won’t collect the fumes and become unsafe for breathing as well as working. Wear a breathing mask as well as goggles in order to be sure that the fumes don't hurt your eyes or lungs.
Step 2: Remove The Door From Its Hinges
You need to pull the door down in order to complete this job properly. You need to find a way to position the door flat enough to work on it, however, not directly on the floor, due to the fact that the paint and stain cannot dry this way. The majority of the people put the door on two saw horses in order to balance them off the ground as they work, moving them as needed.
Step 3: Remove All Door Components And Accessories
As soon as the door has been removed as well as relocated into a safe work area, you need to strip all its components, such as door knobs, letter boxes, knockers, doorbells, etc. They should be easy to pull out with the help of a simple screwdriver. Keep all these things aside, or leave them to be cleaned while the topcoat is drying overnight. You can use the tape in order to put plastic or newspaper over any glass to safeguard it.
Step 4: Strip The Surface
You need to get rid of all the stains as well as paint off the door. Check with the manufacturer of the door in order to be absolutely sure that you get the right products to complete the task efficiently. Most likely you will be using a strong chemical, including a paint thinner, therefore, work safely using safety eyewear and a breathing mask. Protect your hands making sure they aren’t injured by the stringent chemicals or the coarse cleaning materials. You will need to use a steel brush or a copper wool sponge using the chemical agent to strip the paint or stain from the surface.
Step 5: Sand The Door
It is important to wait for some time before you start sanding. However, sanding is important that can be very time-consuming, due to the reason that if any speck of paint or stain is left, it will make the new refinishing job unbalanced. It is better to use three different types of sandpaper in order to complete this job. Start with a coarse macro grit to get rid of any large areas of paint or stain. Then, move on to a medium-fine grit in order to level out the surface. Finally, use a very fine micro grit in order to smooth the door perfectly. You will need to make the door as smooth & even as you possibly can. If some parts are still uneven or covered in stain or paint, then your new finish won’t adhere properly, and you will have to start all over again. Make sure to wipe the surface with the help of clean, damp cloth in order to get rid of all debris.
Step 6: Stain Or Paint The Door
Fiberglass doors usually have a wood-grain finish, making them look beautiful with a nice stain. However, if you want to paint, you can apply an oil-based primer, then wait 24 hours, before applying a coat of oil-based paint. Two coats of paint should be sufficient enough to cover it. Otherwise, if you are looking for a more traditional fiberglass door finish, then the surface needs to be stained. Once again, check with the manufacturer of your door in order to see the best kind of stain or lacquer to use on that type of wood. After covering every crevice with a stain or lacquer, wipe off all the excess. Stain on the surface of a door dries quickly, particularly if it clumps, so it is important to wipe off imperfections as soon as possible. It can take more than 24 hours for the stain to dry completely. Perform this process two to three times for the best results as well as saturation.
Step 7: Refinish Door Frame & Apply Lacquer
While you shouldn’t pull out the frames from your home, the door’s frame should be treated the same as the doors. They need to be stripped, sanded, as well as stained. Again, keep in mind to tape up all the fiberglass in order to avoid damage. This will be a much simpler job than the door was, due to the fact that there is less surface area that needs to be taken care of. You can also give this at least 24 hours to dry.
Step 8: Reattach Door, Components, And Accessories
As soon as the door, as well as the frame, are completely dry, you can reattach any accessories to the door before securing the door onto the hinges. All in all, refinishing a door can be a very difficult process. However, if you do it with patience and follow every step you can have a great-looking door that will help liven up the exterior of your home.