QA

Quick Answer: How To Refinish A Fiberglass Door

How do you refinish a faded fiberglass door?

Refinishing your door. To refinish your door, you need to remove the old paint with a water-based stripper, apply a layer of gel stain, add at least two layers of fiberglass top coat, and allow to completely dry. You may use acrylic over your gel stain, as acrylics are known to have longer lifespan.

Do you have to sand a fiberglass door before staining?

While the stain is still wet, lightly brush the entire surface of the door with a china bristle brush. If you prefer a darker appearance, repeat staining steps one through five only after first coat is completely dry. Do not sand between staining coats.

Can I Restain my fiberglass door?

Answer: Yes, you can, but the process is complicated and will vary depending on the brand and quality of the door. Some fiberglass doors cannot be re-stained because their wood-grain finish will be damaged by the stripping or sanding that you have to do first.

Is it better to paint or stain a fiberglass door?

Fiberglass front doors exposed to strong sunlight should be finished with paint, not stain. Textured front fiberglass doors look better when stained, however, either finish can be used. If your preference is a look of wood rather than fiberglass, staining can be used to accomplish this.

What can I use on a faded fiberglass door?

To remove the old, faded finish, apply a thin layer of water-based stripper and wait at least an hour. Therma-Tru, which makes fiberglass doors, recommends using a methylene chloride stripper, because you need something that will cut through the topcoat as well as the stain layers.

How do you paint a weathered fiberglass door?

Follow these steps to paint a fiberglass door: Step 1: Remove weatherstripping from the door. Step 2: Wash the door. Step 3: Cover hardware with painter’s tape. Step 4: Stir the primer. Step 5: Apply it to the edges of the door. Step 6: Apply the primer to the outer side of the door. Step 7: Apply the paint.

Does gel stain work on fiberglass door?

Gel Stains Fiberglass doors are made to not accept added moisture, which is why they make great doors. Gel stains are very fickle and require great care to apply to fiberglass doors. The directions for gel stain application can vary depending on the manufacturer so do not assume all gel stains are the same.

Can you polyurethane a fiberglass door?

Kohltech recommends you use a high quality, UV stabilized, clear exterior polyurethane coating (satin or low gloss) used for exterior fiberglass applications. It is important that you apply sealant once a year to ensure maximum protection.

Can you paint a fiberglass door to look like wood?

If you have a drab fiberglass door in your living room, give it a quick, inexpensive facelift. Clean the door to remove grease and dirt. Apply a base coat using either paint or stain. Then use a quality gel stain and a wood-graining tool to create faux wood grain in the door.

Can you lightly sand a fiberglass door?

If the surface is uneven, lightly sand it with 120-grit sandpaper. Do not sand the door excessively to avoid releasing fiberglass particles into the air. Once you remove the finish, clean the entire surface with a rag soaked in denatured alcohol.

Do I need to remove all stain before restaining?

You don’t need to remove all of the old stain to apply darker stain. But you do need to remove all of the lacquer, varnish or anything that will prevent new stain from absorbing into the wood. Your sanding block will initially glide over the old lacquer before it begins to cut into it and remove it.

How do you remove gel stain from a fiberglass door?

Using a stripper on a fiberglass door is easy; apply the stripper and wait according directions, use a scouring pad to help loosen the finish, then rinse well with water. If any stain remains after the door is dry, use lacquer thinner, a scouring pad and rags to remove it.

Can you repaint a fiberglass door?

Use acrylic, polyester, polyurethane, or epoxy resin paint on your fiberglass door. Try to pick a paint that matches the type of fiberglass for the best results. Do not use oil-based paints because these can damage the door. Fiberglass-friendly paints are often available in matte, neutral, and gloss finishes.

What kind of paint do you use to paint fiberglass?

Acrylic Latex Acrylic paint adheres well to fiberglass, overcoming one of the main challenges to painting this material. Acrylic paint is less likely to crack and blister, and will hold up well to cleaning. This water-based paint is easy to apply, and contains fewer chemicals, so is more environmentally friendly.

How do you paint a fiberglass door without brush marks?

How To Paint A Door Without Brush Marks Take the door off its hinges. Choose the right paint. Sand down the door to remove old brush marks and blemishes. Sand after every coat. Prepare your workspace for optimal painting conditions. Avoid brushes altogether. Follow the grain direction. Level out paint using conditioner.