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How to Finish Wooden Doors

From old to new, interior doors can be treated to bring out the character of the wood in a modern or traditionally rustic style. With a wide range of wood oils, waxes and varnishes, new or old doors can be transformed adding character and style to your home.

Varnishes: Wood varnishes provide the strongest finish for interior doors. Available in matt, silk and gloss they offer the smoothest finish and the highest level of gloss,although satin and matt are available. Varnishes are not as easy to repair if a small area gets damaged.

Wood Oils: Wood oils offer interior doors good durability and water resistance. Producing a soft sheen, wood oil finishes are very easy to repair if they become scratched or damaged.

Wood waxes: Wood waxes are easy to apply and produce a pleasing traditional look on interior doors that can be buffed to a good shine. Waxes do not provide a strong finish but are easily repaired if damaged or scratched.

Stage 1: Preparation stage 2: Staining Stage 3: Top Coats Stage 4: Buffing Interior Door Maintenance Optional Extras

Stage 1: Preparation

Preparation, the key to stunning internal doors.

Internal doors come in a variety of sizes and styles, if they have been previously waxed or oiled, careful preparation can help to remove old coatings and aid with repairs ensuring a blank canvas for a new finish.

Wax Remover Recommended
Perfect for the removal of old waxes and wax oils from interior doors and furniture prior to re-coating. This product is also handy to have around when applying wax products to clear up any spillages or over application.

Brand: SWS

from £1.95

Stainable Wood Fillers Alternative Product
Stainable wood fillers are perfect for repairing, splits, holes and dents on interior doors and other wooden surfaces. Available in a range of shades, these wood fillers can be waxed, stained or varnished after application blending the repair in with the surrounding wood.

Brand: Bonda

only £4.29

Wood Filler Gel
This clear gel can help to produce an almost invisible repair on interior door, floors and furniture. To repair splits and holes, just mix fine wood dust from the door or piece with the clear filler gel to produce a colour matched filler. Once applied and sanded smooth, the repair area can be waxed, oiled or stained.

Brand: Manns

from £16.59

Filler Knife
Perfect for applying wood fillers to interior doors and other wooden surfaces, these versatile filler knifes are both strong and flexible. Ideal for applying and shaping filler in to holes, splits and dents.

Brand: Mako

only £1.77

Sandpaper Rolls
An essential tool for internal door and furniture renovation or repair projects. Available in a range of grits, this hard wearing sandpaper is ideal for surface preparation or for smoothing wood fillers.

Brand: Hermes

from £14.27

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stage 2: Staining

From rustic country cottage to modern elegance.

On their own, wood stains do not offer a sheen or protection but they are a very effective method for staining new and old wood to achieve the desired style or look. Especially effective on interior doors, furniture and flooring, wood stains can be lightened and darkened and even coloured with compatible wood dyes.

Wood Stain
Water based stains are ideal for staining interior doors and other items of furniture, With a choice of pre-mixed colours, the shade or colour of a stain can be changed by adding a compatible water based wood dye. Easy to use and great for use with wax polishes water stains are quick to apply and non-smelly.

Brand: Manns

from £2.50

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Wax Stain Alternative Product
Wax stain is an ideal product if you're looking to create an aged look on new or re-furbished interior doors. With a wax content, wax stain can be buffed to produce a gentle sheen on doors and other interior wood work.

Brand: Ciranova

from £9.00

Wood Stain (Solvent Based) Alternative Product
Available in a range of colours, solvent stains are perfect for use on interior doors, floors and furniture that are being coated with a solvent based top coat such as varnish or lacquer. They do not raise the wood grain.

Brand: Manns

from £37.95

Stage 3: Top Coats

Adding strength and durability to interior doors.

Interior doors can be subject to knocks and scrapes and the constant wear of opening and closing. Hard wearing top coats are designed to protect and prolong the look and life of wood stains and other finishes.

Easy Wax Easy to Apply
With a consistency of soft margarine, easy wax is both quick and simple to apply. Ideal for interior doors and other wooden surfaces, easy wax can be easily brushed into shaped and moulded areas such as interior door panel edges and corners.

Brand: Manns

from £5.97

Hard Wax Oil Recommended
Hard wax oil is perfect for interior wooden doors providing a high level of durability. Drying in just 2 hours to a gentle satin sheen, this non yellowing formula is perfect as a top coat for wood stains.

Brand: Fiddes

from £3.50

Extra Tough Clear Varnish Best Protection
offering great overall protection for interior doors, extra tough clear varnish can be quickly and easily applied. With a low odour and drying in around 60 minutes, this product is perfect for coating wood stains on doors, floors and worktops.

Brand: Manns

from £3.47

Stage 4: Buffing

Producing an elegant sheen on interior doors.

From a gentle sheen to a high shine finish, interior doors can be quickly and easily buffed to retain their original look and lustre.

Cloth
To achieve a gentle sheen on interior doors that have been stained with a wax based product, all that is required is a gentle buffing with Stockinette cloth. Made from soft lint free cotton, it's perfect for buffing wax stain and wax polish products.

Brand: Manns

from £2.97

Drill Buffing Brushes
Drill buffing brushes fit any standard electric drill and can save time and effort when buffing wax based products to a gentle sheen on interior doors and floors. With a choice of shaped and sizes, buffing brushes are great for getting into shaped and moulded areas such as inset panels on interior doors.

Brand: Manns

from £15.25

Interior Door Maintenance

Easy maintenance for interior doors.

Interior doors, require very little in the way of maintenance, occasional cleaning however can help to retain the look of freshly waxed or varnished doors.

Cloth
Interior doors should need very little in the way of maintenance but depending on the type of stain or finish, it may be possible to clean areas that are prone to contact and dirt with a slightly damp stockinette cloth. It is important to check which cleaning method works with which finish prior to cleaning to avoid any damage to the stain, top coat or door.

Brand: Manns

from £2.97

Optional Extras

Great options to help achieve great interior doors

This handy optional extras can help with the preparation and treatment of all types of interior doors. Although not essential, these extras may be all you need to help create the look that you want in less time.

HVLP Apollo Spray Mate
Very handy for spraying interior doors and other large wooden surfaces. Quick and easy, these affordable HVLP spray machines ensure an even coat of wax, oil or stain even in shaped and difficult to reach areas. Light weight and portable, they work on mains electrical power with no need for heavy and expensive compressors.

Brand: Apollo

only £102.77

Mako Bucket
Ideal for holding wood finishing products when applying wood oils, stains and waxes to doors and other flat surfaces. These buckets are square so work well with paint rollers. They have measuring markers on the side and internal ridges to help control the amount of stain, oil or wax that is on the brush or roller.

Brand: Mako

from £3.77

Foam Sponges
Sometimes used as the preferred application method, foam sponges can be used to apply stains, waxes and oils on interior doors, furniture and other wooden surfaces. Easy to work with and able to get into corners and shaped areas, foam sponges remain a popular choice.

Brand: Manns

from £0.49