The Importance Of A Great Looking Entry Door
Your front doors are the first impression guests and visitors have of your home. The look of your front doors sets the tone for the home, as well as effects the whole curb appeal of the house. The rich look of stained wood exudes glamour and substance. Of course, here in Southwest Florida stained wood can be a challenge since our humidity levels are high and the sun beams down unimpeded. But the look can be achieved with faux finish. The beauty of faux painted doors is that the finish lasts years longer than wood stain and it can be applied to any type of door fabrication.
Recently this pair of entry doors received a faux wood finish on both the outside and inside:
It may be necessary to sand the current finish off and remove any flaking or peeling paint.
Absolutely apply a primer to ensure grip ang longevity. I typically use Bulls Eye 1-2-3.
To create the finish below use a base color of 2008-7A Natural Cork in Duramax.
Next paint on veins in a glaze mixed with Black Raisin 4002-2C. The veins can be created with either a roller applicator or (my preference: stiff chip brushes)
Once the veins are to your liking apply the glaze mix on as if it were a stain all over the door.
The final step is a good clear coat. This is where it can get tricky. Be sure to read your label to ensure your clear coat is made for exterior AND that it can be applied in humid conditions. Some clear coats are made for exterior but CANNOT be applied in humid weather. (You’ll get a foggy finish that won’t dry clear). In the photo below Helmans Spar urethane was used.
Wood faux finish isn't limited to natural wood colors. You can also go with island colored stained wood:
