Top-quality fiberglass entry doors have gotten so good at mimicking the look, ... • For a painted finish, order a smooth-skin fiberglass door, either factory finished in the color of your choice or primed. I would like to know what the best finishes are to use for the top coat (ideally it would withstand UV rays, and a Northeast winter/summer). In my opinion spar varnish will give you the best clear coat protection against water. It will be easiest to paint the door by removing it. This tutorial contains finishing instructions for fiberglass doors which you can complete in four easy steps for a beautiful door every time. Perhaps you’re wondering whether it would be better to paint or stain a fiberglass door. Steel or aluminum? And if you belong to a homeowner’s association, check to see if they have guidelines you’ll need to follow. Once again, check with the manufacturer of your door to see what is the best kind of stain or lacquer to use on that type of wood. Typically used as main-entry and other exterior doors, they usually come primed and ready to paint. Get free 2-day shipping on qualified Finished, Fiberglass Doors products or buy Doors & Windows department products today with Buy Online Pick Up in Store. When painting your fiberglass entry door, choose a time of year when the weather is mild. Finish and Color Considerations. 2. What about a storm door? This makes smooth fiberglass doors one of our top innovations since 1990, the year BUILDING PRODUCTS was founded. Suggested Supplies. If primed, paint it with a high-quality exterior-grade paint, as you would a wood door. Once you’ve chosen a door, you’ll need to decide on a locking handle and deadbolt. Good exterior finishes protect the wood from these harsh conditions, but will certainly fail unless they are renewed on a scheduled basis. top-coat staining instructions for Masonite® fiberglass entry systems maintenance 1. Varnish strips fairly easy compared to 2k poly. Top-quality fiberglass entry doors have gotten so good at mimicking the look, feel, and thunk of wood that you could swing one open and close it behind you without ever realizing you weren't handling solid mahogany, oak, or pine. While steel doors won’t warp, they can dent and rust. Finished - Fiberglass Doors - Front Doors - The Home Depot When I talked to the salesmen about it, one of his selling points on fiberglass was that you can stain it to get a natural wood grain look. Fiberglass entry doors, including smooth and textured products, claim 15 percent of the market, up from 10 percent at the turn of the century, shortly after smooth fiberglass was introduced. As you can see, there are advantages to either approach, and in many cases it is a matter of personal preference. As your fiberglass doors get older, you may notice that the topcoat finish on them becomes worn, chipping and even flaking away, giving your door an aged and unattractive appearance. We hope this information is useful to you if you want to be able to distinguish the situations in which it is best to paint or stain a fiberglass door. Gel Stain Interior or exterior clear finish Mineral spirits 2” natural bristle brush 2” foam brush Latex gloves Clean, lint-free cloth (for removing excess stain) Stir stick Get More Help Choosing a Door Finish This is even more true of fiberglass doors that are on the exterior, as they have to face the elements as well as the natural aging process. Clear Finish for an Exterior Door No clear finish lasts long in the sun and weather, but here are some thoughts from finishers on the best of the bunch. This makes smooth fiberglass doors one of our top innovations since 1990, the year BUILDING PRODUCTS was founded. We hope this information is useful to you if you want to be able to distinguish the situations in which it is best to paint or stain a fiberglass door. Related Resource: Painting Vinyl Windows The process is not difficult, but it can be tedious. Eventually the finish will have to be striped when the coating becomes too thick. The answer to this question depends on several different factors, and there are compelling reasons you might want to use either type of finishing technique. It will be easiest to paint the door by removing it.