Solid Staining Mahogany Door

Earnie

Would you apply a solid stain to an exterior mahogany door?

Our front door is solid mahogany with oval glass. After twenty years it needs refinishing. I have no idea if any stain or sealer was applied to the door on initial installation. We would like to add color with a Sherwin-Williams solid latex stain.

The interior will remain the original mahogany color.

Would staining the exterior be a mistake?

Mr. Paint

In my opinion, yes. Solid stains behave and look like a painted finish. A solid mahogany door can be the crowning jewel of your home's entry and should be maintained regularly. If the thought of doing it properly is too challenging for you, consider hiring a professional painter to do it.

Hardware removal and cleaning, wood stripping, bleaching, staining, varnishing, hardware reinstallation and door mounting may all be involved. Once it is finished, a gleaming solid wood (And hopefully some grand, gleaming hardware) will be the talk of the neighborhood. You'll be glad you didn't paint it.