Refinishing fiberglass entry door

[JDgreen227]

I have a southern facing fiberglass entry door with a clear coat finish on the exterior that is peeling badly. I have done a lot of wood staining, painting, and refinishing, but never had a fiberglass door prior to this one. The door was installed in late 2002, if that means anything.

Can anyone advise me on how to best refinish this door? Do I need to completely remove the older clear finish, or is what has not peeled simply be scuff sanded and recoated? Any particular product that is recommended?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[schmism]

the old finish needs to be completely removed.

then i suggest an automotive clear coat. Any other poly finishes will not stand up but for just a few years even the marine grade versions

 

[jinman]

I'm not sure of the brand of your door, but it may be Therma-Tru like mine. If it is Therma-Tru, I would not use anything but the Therma-Tru stain kit to do the job. When my house was built, the painter told me that he had done thousands of doors with his own method and it worked well. BUNK! In a year, my doors looked awful.:thumbdown:

Therma-Tru's system includes stain and a latex based clear coat. The only problem you will have is that you will need to completely remove the door for refinishing. You need 6 hours minimum for the stain to dry followed by several hours for the clear coat to dry. You'll have to put up plywood or some other temporary door. If the weather is bad, that can be a pain in the butt. You really don't want to do refinishing with high humidity anyway though.

I sanded my doors down using an orbital sander. I didn't want to remove all the faux wood grain with sanding, so I used acetone on a rag to do final cleanup down in the embossed grain in the fiberglass door surfaces and around the moldings. Therma-Tru recommends mineral spirits, but the painter's finish seemed to give way to acetone best. Acetone is VERY FLAMMABLE of course and you have to be careful. It will suck all the moisture out of your skin and may melt any gloves you try to wear. Don't use it in a confined space with open flames.

My main doors into my house are 15 pane swinging french doors since my main entrance is off my deck (see attachment) and faces directly west. I applied the Therma-Tru product from their kit and it has lasted 3 times as long as the original. Forget using Minwax or some other product if you have lots of sun on your doors as I do. The Therma-Tru kit is the ONLY way you want to go. It may not be perfect, but it exceeds all other products. They also have great instructions and help to ensure your job is done right.

 

[JDgreen227]

Appreciate the detailed information, and it helps me a lot. Nope, our door is not a Therma True, the brand name is Southern Millwork, a Home Depot $500 special...the door itself is fine, just the outside finish is the weak point. Since I use a full storm door on it, removing the door for sanding, refinishing, etc wouldn't cause any problems for me...just pull the hinge pins and lay it on sawhorses outside for the work. Thanks. :thumbsup:

 

[Western]

I would also suggest wearing gloves, long sleeve shirt and a mask. I don't know how your door composite is, but if you get any fiberglass fines on your skin it sucks. Been there done that kinda thing.

 

[JDgreen227]

I would also suggest wearing gloves, long sleeve shirt and a mask. I don't know how your door composite is, but if you get any fiberglass fines on your skin it sucks. Been there done that kinda thing.

LOL have worked with fiberglass roll insulation on DIY projects for 40 years of home ownership projects if a fiberglass door is anything like insulation "been there done that" a hundred times at least.

But thanks for the heads up a little more warning never hurts....

 

[SandburRanch]

Take it to an auto body shop and have it painted your favorite entry door color.

 

[JDgreen227]

Take it to an auto body shop and have it painted your favorite entry door color.

Which, of course, would be Deere green with yellow trim...sorry, wife picked the door out and she wants to keep it as it is (honey oak finish). That is interesting to think of though, taking it to a body shop...wonder if the fiberglass doors are constructed like my brothers Corvette, next time he visits I will ask him if I can hammer on his fender to compare the flex between his car and my door....

 

[SandburRanch]

Which, of course, would be Deere green with yellow trim...sorry, wife picked the door out and she wants to keep it as it is (honey oak finish). That is interesting to think of though, taking it to a body shop...wonder if the fiberglass doors are constructed like my brothers Corvette, next time he visits I will ask him if I can hammer on his fender to compare the flex between his car and my door....

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Consider toning it down just a little. Just a JD yellow lever/knob.:laughing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vle44kNHxDg

 

[2manyrocks]

I asked the local hardware store how theirs are finished, and they said it was some kind of gel stain. Don't know if that's good information or not, but that's what they said.