Stained fiberglass doors are easier to work with than wood doors. Embossed fiberglass means that you will have low maintenance on your door. The difference between the staining of fiberglass and wood is the application method.
The advantage of staining a fiberglass door over wood is that the fiberglass does not absorb the stain. Not all types of stains work. To get the best results, use a gel stain. A standard wiping stain will not work effectively on your fiberglass doors. Learn more about staining fiberglass here on Total Home Windows and Doors.
1. How to choose the best stain
As you buy the stains, you will notice that some manufacturers sell a stain and finish kit, and they come in many different colors. You can also decide to buy the oil-based gelled stain and ensure that you purchase with the finish separately. The advantage is that you can also intermix the oil-based gel to have more color choices. For the finish, use any that is quality.
2. The procedure for staining a fiberglass door
You can decide to do the staining by either hanging on the frame, putting the fiberglass doors in a vertical position, or on sawhorses. Placing the door in a vertical frame and hanging on the frame are more straightforward methods because you will not have to get into contact with the door after staining.
The following steps will help you when staining.
- Detach all the hardware and weather stripping
Ensure that you remove all the doorknobs and hardware and carefully mask them. It will make your staining work easier and have a great finishing experience. However, you might have a challenge when returning the locking system, especially the deadbolt. This is the part where you need to be extra careful with the finishing because, with a slight mistake, you can mess with the new stain and finish. After carefully returning the lock system, detach the weather stripping at the frame and on the bottom of the door. Ensure that all these items are in a safe place because you will need them later.
- Get rid of excessive window glazing
The fiberglass entry doors in Canada with windows or sidelights usually have rubberized caulking that extends to the glass. First, scrap that off using a single-edge razor brush. You can then start by removing the edge on the frame and then use the razor blade to scrap the one on the glass. Use a glass cleaner to remove the excess.
- Wash the door and mask
To remove all the residues, use mineral spirits and a clean rag. You can also use denatured alcohol. If you notice that the dirt is excess, start the cleaning by using soap and water. Ensure you remove all the stuck hard materials. Do not clean your fiberglass doors with sandpaper if you don’t want to ruin them. Also, ensure you mask the glass with masking tape.
- Staining the door and sidelights
You can choose to apply the stain on your fiberglass entry doors in Canada with a rag or a brush. Ensure you wipe off the excess before the stains dry. It is easier to use the brush method. When you are staining and notice an excess stain, use a dry rag to clean it off. Alternatively, the rag technique is also a good option but any option that works better for you will also do well.
- The staining sequence
Start the staining with the door edges while removing the excess stains with a rag. After that, go to the face surfaces and move to the window frame. Next is the window frame, and finish up with the vertical stiles. Ensure you apply the stain in the same direction as the grain.
- Smearing the finish
You should apply a top coat after staining by using either a brush or spraying. Also, the environment should be dust-free and do not sand between the coats. When using a brush, do not over-brush to avoid loosening the stain. When using the spray application method, ensure the first coat dries up first before going to the next.
Staining your fiberglass doors is a great way to make your entry doors in Canada stand out.