Best Exterior Wood Door Varnish
From a finishing standpoint exterior doors rank right up there with decks as the most complicated surfaces to protect and maintain as a critical high traffic barrier between the interior and exterior of a home the finish on a.
Best exterior wood door varnish. I mainly looked at three products waterlox marine finish sikkens cetol and watco exterior wood finish. 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. I m torn between applying a film forming finish such as paint opaque stain or exterior varnish or a penetrating oil finish. The first question is whether to go with a latex paint or an oil based paint and corresponding stain blocking primer.
I m preparing to build an outdoor furniture set including chairs tables and other pieces. However the initial application does take longer then exterior varnish. An epoxy sealer with an exterior varnish topcoat is the most durable outdoor finish and can last for many many years. Q what is the best way to finish an exterior wooden door.
A scott burt owner of topcoat finishes a high end residential paint company in jericho vt responds. Maintenance is a necessity for outdoor wood finishes. It comes with an oil based formulation that allows it to expand and contract with altering weather conditions. The varnish and paint on the bottom third of the door is crackling.
I have researched to find the best finish that has uv protection mildewcide is easily applied. Finish with the outer sections following the grain of the wood. Since your door is likely exposed to outside elements using the proper exterior paint type will prevent peeling and fading. Choose the best paint for the front door.
Good exterior finishes protect the wood from these harsh conditions but will certainly fail unless they are renewed on a scheduled basis. There are a variety of exterior wood finishes with different characteristics and properties. The best clear finish for an exterior door is 3 coats of clear epoxy followed with 2 3 coats of spar varnish. 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.
Allow the door to dry for an hour or two check the instructions on the paint can then apply a second coat.