[rpulley825]

Have several still basic white doors and tired of looking at. Is gel stain best way to go; with doors in horizontal position ? And what is proper application procedures and best materials (i.e. type brushes, wiping cloths)to use. Thanks in advance

 

[joecaption]

Are these MDF hollow core doors?

 

[Gymschu]

I have attempted to stain those type of doors in the past and couldn't do it. The mfr. says you must strip off the primer to stain them, but doing so really does damage to the doors, that is if these are hollow-core MDF doors as Joe Caption described. Stain OVER paint just doesn't go too well.

If they are solid doors, well, the only way to get stain on them is to strip the paint, a messy, expensive process. You would be better off just buying new (bare wood) doors and staining them.

 

[rpulley825]

Yes Joe they are hollow core

 

[joecaption]

If that's case you have two choices, paint or replace the doors with soild wood prehung doors.

 

[rpulley825]

Thank you Gymschu for your information. Will seriously consider purchasing replacement wood doors or possibly repainting something other than white

 

[Gymschu]

Thank you Gymschu for your information. Will seriously consider purchasing replacement wood doors or possibly repainting something other than white

That's what I have ended up doing. I've re-painted them in a color to closely match the trim. If you take a trim sample into the paint store, they usually have someone there who can make a color match in paint for you.

 

[spraygunn]

When a manufacturer claims that embossed doors are stainable, they are preying on the inexperience of the consumer. I saw a retailer apply regular stain to a similar type door, it should have been embarrassing to the retailer to even do so.

As Joe and Gymschu both said it can’t be done. As professionals we could never get away with a finish product like that. The customer would never accept it.

If you still want to proceed with the wood grain effect, then I would suggest starting from scratch. Start by applying a ground coat of semi-gloss enamel in a honey color. Then use your gel stain. If you apply the gel stain over the factory white primer, it will soak in like a sponge. That’s why you should use a semi-gloss so that the stain will glide. Use cheese cloth to apply the stain. Finally apply at least two maybe three coats of a clear coat polyurethane for protection.

Before you begin this project be sure to try it on the back side of a bi-fold door if you have any.
This is not an easy project if you choose to do it. Take your time.

 

[rpulley825]

Thank You Steve. My wife and I have decided to paint the doors instead with a high quality enamel with maybe all concerned doors the same or possibly different colors. What I don't understand is why the mfgr's. would produce a product with the embossed woodgrain finish and then market it with no practical means of finishing it off so it looks like real wood!!! White woodgrain ????

 

[spraygunn]

It’s a marketing ploy. Most consumers want wood doors until they see the price. Embossing these primed doors encourage their hopes of simulating that look, but are disappointed when they see it’s not as easy they were told.

Some of the most handsome doors I’ve done are the Masonite paneled doors with no embossing and sprayed to a flawless finish.

 

[gregzoll]

You can always have them faux painted to look like they are stained. It wakes a while to get it down, but can be done and no one would be the wiser. Replacing them with solid doors, will up the resale value of the house, along with cut down on sound transmission.