Front Door Refinishing in San Diego
Bright and bold front doors are super trendy right now, ranging from fire engine red to a lime green that makes you want to grab your sunglasses. It’s fun, plus adds some unique curb appeal , so why not? We’re all for it.
At the same time, we have a soft spot for natural wood stains and finishes. Painting costs less, is easier to maintain, and is a faster process, but wood finishes require patience, experience, and specific skills. It’s a labor of love and craftsmanship, drawing warmth and character from your home’s woodwork. It’s timeless too — it may not be edgy, but it’ll never be out of style.
As a real-life example, let’s take a closer look at this door that Raul just finished for a local San Diego home. He’s our resident refinishing wizard, as the team calls him, and you’ll see why as you click through these pictures.
How do you refinish a front door?
Here’s a top-level summary of the process and he products he used:
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First, just like every painting or staining project we take on, we prep and contain our workspace.
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Next, Raul stripped the old finish away. Completely removing it is an efficient way to be certain that the old finish is out of the equation, leaving a clean surface for the new stain to really saturate. As we often say, preparation is 80 % of a project.
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After prepping the wood, Raul applied a Rich Mahogany stain from Old Masters. It’s a beautiful finish and offers specific notes of color that add a lot of depth.
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Finally, Raul applied clear, satin varnish over the top ( PPG PROLUXE ). Not only does it add an essential layer of protection, but this particular product also reduces UV damage, repels moisture, and resists mildew. Perfect for a surface that sees a lot of weather and use.
Be sure to click through the photos to see the full transformation!










