Door staining · Yakima + 60 miles
Door staining that brings a weathered door back
Front, interior and French doors brought back from sun and weather damage, often for a fraction of buying new.
Chapter 01
What sun and weather do to a door
A front door takes more abuse than any other surface on the house. Sun breaks down the finish and fades the color. Moisture finds the bare grain along the bottom edge and the seams. The coat cracks, lifts and peels, the wood greys, and by the time the door looks tired the damage is often under the surface too.
Carol Thompson, one of our Google reviewers, wrote that one of their doors had pretty heavy sun and weather damage. The usual assumption is that a door in that state has to be replaced. Often it doesn't.
Tan two-tone ranch home with white columns, stone wainscot and a black front door after Castillo's repaint
How we refinish a door
We start with the surface: strip what is failing, sand back to sound wood, and clean it so the new finish can bond. For a door that was painted before, the answer is often yes, we can strip the existing paint, sand and apply stain. Whether that works depends on the wood type and its condition, and we look at that during the free estimate rather than guessing from a photo.
A single door typically takes one to two days, including prep, staining and drying. We work on front doors, interior doors, French doors, side-light panels and garage doors, and on new doors that need a finish.
The door in the photo above is a black painted front door on a two-tone ranch, and it's a good reminder that not every door wants stain. Some are better painted. Carol's review makes the case for paint on doors in plain words: worth paying for, and the doors came out looking brand new. At the estimate, we tell you which finish we'd choose for yours and why.
Chapter 03
Keeping a refinished door looking new
The finish does its best work when it is sealed all the way around, including the top and bottom edges that nobody sees. Those edges are where water gets in first, so they're worth the extra pass.
Quality stain typically lasts 5-7 years on vertical surfaces like fences and siding, and a front door facing hard afternoon sun may want attention sooner. Watch for fading, a dry, chalky look, or fine cracks at the corners. Catching it then means a light refresh. Waiting until the wood is bare means starting over.
“it's worth it to pay to paint the doors! Ours look brand new and one had pretty heavy sun and weather damage. Saved us from buying a new one.” Carol Thompson, Google review
Ideal projects
Every door on the house
Doors are the part of the house people touch, so the finish gets seen up close. If the rest of the house needs attention too, see our exterior painting and trim and fine finish work, or see finished houses in the gallery.
- Front door refinishing
- Interior door staining
- French door staining
- Side-light panels
- Garage doors
- New door installations
Show us the door
We will look at the wood, tell you whether it wants stain or paint, and give you a detailed quote. The estimate is free and carries no obligation. Ask about the first-time customer discount and the military discount.