One of the reasons that stain is such a popular choice in both interior and exterior doors is the way that it allows the beauty of the wood to show through. With stained doors, the grain of the wood will be somewhat to clearly visible depending on the type of wood and its natural color, and the color of the stain selected.

At Nick’s Building Supply, we sell all of our interior and exterior wood doors stained to your color choice if you request. This is a great option as our professional craftsmen take great pride in finishing the doors to highlight the natural beauty of the wood and to protect and seal it to keep it looking like new for years to come.

However, there will come a time when the door needs to be stained again, or perhaps you simply choose to change the color of the stain. If you do want to change the color of the stain there are some simple tips to keep in mind to get the results you want.

Choosing the Stain

It is important to choose a top-quality stain for your door. We recommend a commercial quality stain that is low VOC. We also recommend for exterior doors as well as for interior doors that will have direct sun or that are in a busy area of the home, such as kitchens and bathroom, to add a UV protectant sealant that will help retain the beauty of the wood and prevent any type of damage.

When working with currently stained doors there is no need to stay with the same color stain. However, you will have to choose a color of a stain that is going to be visible on the door, so that is the same color or a darker shade than the natural wood. Staining wood a lighter stain color will not create any color change, and if you already have a darker stain that will have to be completely removed before a lighter look can be achieved.

Preparing the Surface

You cannot simply apply stain over a currently finished surface, or you will end up with a patchy-looking finished product. This occurs because only areas where the current stain and sealant is missing will actually take the new stain.

To correct this, you will need to lightly sand stained doors to remove the surface finishing. This should be done carefully and with the grain of the wood, only removing the thinnest layer of the surface to allow the new stain to be absorbed.

After sanding, apply the new stain as per the manufacture’s recommendations. Then follow with a sealant for protection and your door will be as good as new.