How do you stain closet doors?
Question:I want to re-stain my closet doors and...The closets were originally stained and varnished, then someone came in and re-sanded and there were deep sanding gouges so the local paint shop told us to put some kind of light color paint over them and then put stain on it to look like wood grain, now after quite a few years they need to be re-done...WHATS THE EASIEST WAY TO RE-STAIN THEM? If we re-paint it with a light beige and rub it with stain will that work, if not please explain! Thanks
Answers:
Might want to get the old stuff off first. Get a paint remover and re do them the way you did the 1st time.
stain is made to go directly into the wood. I would sand it down with 100grit sandpaper (down to the wood) Then give it a light coat of sanding with 150 just to get out all scratch marks. Stain it. Then laquer over. (I like to use tongue oil for my finish. it comes in gloss or semi gloss.)
The easiest way would to find yourself a wood grain faux paint kit at a larger paint or hardware store (Lowes, HomeDepot, Sherwin-Williams). They are not always the easiest to find, but they are rather inexpensive.
The faux paint kit will most likely not be able to exactly match your current closet door look, but you should be able to get the overall tone to match your surrounding trim.
There are kits now that can give the appearance of woodgrain without having to do any sanding or stripping. Prior to applying your faux finish, you will want to buy a bit of spackle and fill in any dings and dents, a bit of light sanding and your door will be ready for paint.
This would be your easiest route if you are thinking or refinishing standard closet doors. If you have a nice hardwood, something like maple or cherry I wouldn't encourage this route, but if you have a softwood (such as pine or poplar). Considering you said you have sanding gouges, I'm guessing they are a cheaper softwood. Softer woods mar easier and do not have the longevity that hardwoods will. You usually will have to re-stain softwoods more often, therefore making them not cost efficient as stained doors, but you can paint them to help protect, and make repairs simple and easy (spackle your dents/scratches and repaint).
As for re-paint and stain; This can work, in the right setting. Stain is not meant to be applied to paint. You will find yourself with swirls and all sorts of inconsistancies, it could even take the paint right off (depending on your stain). You can paint your door and use a glaze or faux paint to get a color variation throughout your door. The glazing is meant to be applied to a non-porous surface such as something painted, rather than raw wood. The woodgrain faux paint kits usually have everything you need to achieve a wood look with minimal effort.
Hope this helps
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