Finish for Front door / garage doors

[andrewm]

What would the people on this forum recommend as a finish for a new front door and matching garage doors. Not sure at this stage if it is going to be hardwood or softwood (would that make a difference?) and because these are my doors I am not adverse to giving it a once over with oil every couple of years if that is the way to go.

Looking for something translucent so that the grain shows through. Colour probably depends on the eventual choice of timber in as much as if I end up going for oak then will probably try to maintain a natural colour but if I go for a softwood then would probably go for a mahogany-ish colour.

Andrew

 

[Paul Chapman]

Hi Andrew,

I think a lot depends on the direction the house faces and how much of a bashing the doors will take from the weather. My front door and garage door get little rain or sun on them, so I have to do very little to them, but the back door takes a real bashing from both the rain and the sun. The back door therefore needs far more attention. I've always found Sadolin Classic quite good - it's one of those micro-porous finishes that tends not to peel. If you want a mahogany finish I would choose walnut or teak :? I always find that what manufacturers call mahogany/redwood always comes out looking wrong

Hope this is of some help :wink:

Paul

 

[RogerM]

Looking for something translucent so that the grain shows through. Colour probably depends on the eventual choice of timber in as much as if I end up going for oak then will probably try to maintain a natural colour but if I go for a softwood then would probably go for a mahogany-ish colour.

I would also be interested in an answer to this one as I plan to build a front door in Oak that takes a pasting from both sun and rain. So how about some opinions for both exposed and sheltered positions?

 

[Paul Chapman]

Roger,

I would say that if it is in a position where it gets a bashing from the weather, whatever you use re-treat it every year. If you wait until it obviously needs re-treating, you've probably left it too late In all seriousness the best answer is to build a porch - but that's not always possible :wink:

Cheers

Paul

 

[andrewm]

The front door is in a porch so it is protected to some extent. Garage doors obviously are not. Both face North-West.

When I said mahogany I was referring to the colour of the stain - not the timber. i.e. I have looked at the Sadolin/Siikens samples and what they call mahogany seems to be about the shade of reddish dark brown that I am looking for.

Sounds like a micro-porous finish is the way to go then rather than a true oiled finish. I will investigate what is available starting with the Sadolin Classic.

Thanks,

Andrew