There are a variety of exterior wood finishes with different characteristics and properties.
Best finish for exterior door.
A scott burt owner of topcoat finishes a high end residential paint company in jericho vt responds.
Oil finishes don t provide a protective film that sits on top of the wood like varnish does.
Allow the door to dry for an hour or two check the instructions on the paint can then apply a second coat.
Good woods photo by manfred koh time inc.
For large exterior surfaces glossier paints are usually reserved for trim areas such as windowsills and doors as well as surfaces that may be washed frequently.
Instead oil soaks into the wood fibers and.
Normally semi gloss paint is the best choice for trim work since high gloss paints are so shiny that they highlight imperfections.
The combination has worked amazingly well for me on a west facing exterior oak door that looks as good today as it did after refinishing 7 8 years ago.
An exterior oil finish is definitely the simplest quickest way to treat an outdoor project.
Wood entry door materials and finishes photo by keller keller.
Doors made with stable woods are less affected by humidity so they re better at holding up to the elements.
Choosing an exterior wood finish.
Good exterior finishes protect the wood from these harsh conditions but will certainly fail unless they are renewed on a scheduled basis.
The best clear finish for an exterior door is 3 coats of clear epoxy followed with 2 3 coats of spar varnish.
Maintenance is a necessity for outdoor wood finishes.
For a door made of pine white fir or another wood species that doesn t bleed i e gives off tinted compounds in wood called tannins go with a water based exterior paint such as behr.
Finish with the outer sections following the grain of the wood.
I m torn between applying a film forming finish such as paint opaque stain or exterior varnish or a penetrating oil finish.
Q what is the best way to finish an exterior wooden door.
Previous varnish only finishes only lasted 2 3 years.
The wood you see beneath a clear finish determines whether your door s look will be rustic or refined.