Staining a wooden door is very simple should you know how to do it. Here is a simple way to do just that. This covers how to stain your door and what supplies you will need.
First you have to know what sort of wood you are dealing with. If your door is a soft wood then you need to even out the surface prior to staining the door. Otherwise, the stain fails to apply evenly. To do this you will need to sand it. This can be done a few varied ways. If you want to get the job done quickly you can use a sander with a fine grain sand paper. This can be found at any hardware store and also at Wal-Mart. The other option is to use the sandpaper without the sander. This allows you to get fine detailed work accomplished. Many artisans use this method to ensure that the grain of the wood is exactly as they wish it to be. You decide what fits your needs best.
If you are unsure of how to tell if the wood is soft or not, follow this guide. Typically, the more even the grain of the wood, the less likely it is hard wood. If the grain is blotchy, then it is almost definitely a soft wood. No matter what wood it is, you must find the look you desire. Sand the wood to a fine even finish with just enough of the grain to make the look work for you.
Now that you know the sort of wood you have, soft or hard, you can proceed to begin the process of staining a door. Begin by washing the door. You may also need to remove the paint or stain of the door before you apply the new stain to the door. Next, sand it to the finish as mentioned above. Now you must choose which stain to use.
Dye will allow you to show the rough grain of the wood. Oil based will also allow that. The result is less noticeable. So if the grain is prominent in your decor, go with a dye. If you wish to have less noticeable grain and an even coat to the stain of the door, then go with a water based stain. Choose the color you desire and apply this to a small piece of the door and allow it to dry to see the results. Remember that stains look different when dry. Now that you have the stain chosen, and the stain has passed the patch test, you can begin to stain the door.
Wear gloves for this process. Apply the stain according to your desired effect. Sponges allow you to make a more creative look. Brushes allow you to apply an even layer of stain. Create the look you desire. Apply evenly and allow each layer to dry and set before deciding if the door needs another layer of stain. When finished make sure to allow the stain to set again. Some people may wish to watch the drying process to ensure that the stain is not drying wrong. I say that that means you messed the whole thing up and need to do it over from the start. If stain is evenly applied, it will not bubble up. This only happens when you have put too much on each layer when you stain a door. Use less and do several layers to ensure a professional result to the stain of the door.
That is how you stain a door. When done properly, you have a brand new door that fits your decor perfectly. You also have the satisfaction of doing the job yourself.
