How To Repair Scratch Fiberglass Woodgrain

Stained and Finished Fiberglass Door, ready to be rehung.

Stained and Finished Fiberglass Door, set up to be rehung.

Embossed fiberglass is a low maintenance substitute to the standard wood door. Plus, staining a fiberglass door tin can be easier than working with wood. The master difference between wood and fiberglass is the type of stain and its application.

Embossed, wood grained, fiberglass can't absorb the stain like wood. A standard wiping stain volition not work. The only type of stain that will work is a gel stain. The same type used on hard to stain woods.

Some articles sell a stain and finish kit available in several different colors. The oil based gelled stains piece of work great and the finish is a user friendly Acrylic Urethane or Waterborne Polyurethane. I take used the kits from Therma-Tru with very good results.

An alternative is to purchase the gel stain and finish separately. My preferred oil based gel stain is manufactured by Old Masters, bachelor in multiple colors and can exist intermixed to increase your colour choices. The clear end must be exterior rated, whatsoever quality terminate can exist used.

Procedures For Staining a Fiberglass Door

Staining a fiberglass door tin can be accomplished either hanging on the frame, attached to each other and vertical (multiple doors) or on saw horses. My preference when staining a fiberglass door is the vertical position and on the frame.

This way I don't take to handle the door after staining. This is the procedure I will describe. Horizontal or vertical doesn't matter as long as yous are comfy with the doors position.

1) Remove All Hardware and Atmospheric condition Stripping

All door knobs and associated hardware has to be removed or carefully masked. Removal will allow the easiest staining and finishing experience.

The merely problem is reinstalling a locking mechanism, typically the expressionless bolt, afterward staining. Be very careful at this important junction when finishing an exterior fiberglass door. It is very easy to damage the new stain and finish.

Side by side remove the weather stripping from the frame and the bottom of the door. Well-nigh manufactures take weather stripping and sweeps that will pull out. Store these items in a safe place for the duration of the finishing procedure.

2) Remove Excessive Window Glazing

If your fiberglass door has a window or sidelight(s) you volition notice a rubberized caulking extruding onto the glass. Remove all backlog glazing with a sharp single border razor bract.

First carefully score the glazing forth the border of the frame. Using the razor blade scrape the glazing from the glass. Wipe the remaining residue off using a glass cleaner.

3) Clean the Door and Mask

Commencement with a clean surface by using mineral spirits and a make clean white rag. This volition remove any balance from manufacturing or shipping. Some other solvent that can be used is denatured alcohol.

If excessive dirt or crud is present, soap and water must be used prior to cleaning with mineral spirits. Pay special attention to greasy fingerprints. Let the door surface to dry completely before proceeding.

Stuck hard material must exist carefully scraped off. Any scratch on the surface has the potential to be amplified after staining. Never sand a fiberglass door. It will exist ruined.

The glass should be masked with rubber release masking tape (blue painter'south tape) and paper. The extent of the masking depends on the application method of the clear terminate, spraying requires the virtually masking.

4) Staining a Fiberglass Door and Sidelights

Two different methods can used, utilise the stain with a rag and then remove the excess with a brush or utilize with a castor only then blend i area into another with the same brush. Both the rag and brush methods work fine.

I adopt to apply the oil based gel stain with a skilful bristle brush so blend ane section into another with the same brush.

The best part about staining a fiberglass door is that any spiral-ups can be removed with mineral spirits and a rag before the oil based stain dries. So you lot can practise on a apartment surface area before committing yourself to staining the entire door.

Staining a fiberglass door using the brush method is easy. With a small-scale amount of stain on the brush apply an even glaze in the direction of the grain. Always begin in an unstained area working toward a previously stained area. Work the stain into the grained surface.

Use a fast light brushing technique, blending one department into another. During the blending process excessive stain can be removed from the brush with a make clean dry rag. Continue brushing until one department is blended into an adjoining section.

Removing excessive stain with the brush, wiping the bristles on a rag to remove stain, can control the color intensity or a second coat can be applied after the first has fully dried, typically 24 hours.

The rag technique is very similar and is a good selection. With this technique a rag is dipped into the stain and rubbed onto the surface. Rub in the direction of the grain. The castor is used to remove backlog stain and alloy i section into another. Excess stain on the brush is removed with a clean dry rag or paper towels. Assuasive the stain to dry out for several minutes before removing the excess volition darken the colour.

Experiment with both methods and consult with the door manufacturer to make up one's mind the best method for y'all.

5) Staining Sequence

Start with the door frame/jamb and brick mold, if made of stainable wood. If primed, staining and finishing is an option but painting looks amend. Staining sidelights can be done after the door and the sequence is the same.

Staining a fiberglass door needs exist done in a specific order.

Brainstorm with the door edges. Remove any excess stain deposited on the fiberglass face up with a rag.
Now it'southward time for the face surfaces. Starting time with the raised panels and the vertical stile betwixt them. Next is the window frame.
Continue with the horizontal rails and complete with the vertical stiles. E'er use the stain in the direction of the grain.

six) Applying the Stop

A articulate topcoat must be applied after staining a fiberglass door. Two application methods can be used, brushing or spraying. Both methods will produce great results, with the use of an HVLP sprayer producing the best results possible.

Multiple thin coats are amend than two thick coats. Plan on 3-v coats of clear finish depending on application method.

Provide a dust free environs. Do not sand betwixt coats when finishing fiberglass doors. Grit can be removed with a tack cloth before application and between coats. Before get-go stir the topcoat well. Never shake the can, as this volition cause fine bubbles to appear in the finish.

Brush Application
Apply a thin beginning glaze so it just wets the surface. Quickly work the brush into the grained texture. Apply the terminate in the same order as when staining. Detect the door for any runs or drips and quickly correct with the brush.

Do non over brush. Over brushing could loosen and lift the stain. If this occurs, wait until the finish is dry then gently wipe the surface area with a tack cloth to remove any balls of stain and finish. Advisedly repair any damaged stain with a small brush and then recoat the area before proceeding with the adjacent coat.

Allow the kickoff coat to thoroughly dry then utilise another glaze in the same order. Three coats are recommended for the best protection.

Spray Application
Either a HVLP or airless sprayer tin can be used. Afterwards filling and priming the sprayer test the sprayer design, pressure level and volume on a piece of cardboard or plywood. Apply the topcoat in a sweeping motility, first in i direction and and so in the opposite direction. Avoid spraying a heavy glaze as drips or runs tin occur, correct drips with a brush before the coat is dry.

Allow the first coat to dry out before proceeding with the following coats. The 2nd application needs to be sprayed the same every bit the kickoff. Follow with one, or more, coats sprayed in one direction merely.

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