Fiber Glass Entry Door, First Time for Sub

12 years ago

We purchased a mahogany wood grained fiber glass door for our new home. When I talked this week with the subcontractor who was hired by my contractor to paint and stain all the trim, doors,etc., I realized that he has never stained and finished a wood grain fiber glass door before. He believed that " with a brochure or a set of instructions" he would have no trouble finishing the door.I'm a little nervous about this. For those of you who have wood grained fiber glass doors, how forgiving is the stain and finishing process. Is it something that an experienced painter could handle even if he has never done this type of door before? Should I be out looking for another sub to do the door? Please advise.

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Comments (4)

kellylp
12 years ago
We had a Masonite mahogany grained door and sidelight installed recently. It was a giant pain!! If you have a sidelight, I recommend looking closely (before staining) to ensure that the wood grain matches. Our painter had never stained a door like this before. It turned out that Masonite does not supply the stain to the dealers. As such, we had to experiment to find the right colour. The dealer recommended using a gel stain. It was a long and arduous process. In the end, because the stain didn't sink into the fiberglass evenly, we ended up going for a solid stain look. It looks good and we do get compliments, but in hindsight, I would have gone for a solid wood door (cost would have been lower in the end). Also, another warning: If you have a sidelight, the trim around the glass is a completely different texture that takes the stain completely differently. Upon looking closely, this part looks cheap. Another option that I would consider is to order the factory stained version of your door - more money, but fewer headaches.

If you'd like to see a picture, just let me know!
Sidney4
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks Kellylp. This is exactly what I was afraid.The door is already installed so this is what we will have to work with. Wood really isn't an option for our climate anyway.I wish now I had ordered it prefinished.

We have sidelights too so that may be another issue.

If you could post a picture that would be great. For me this door is one of the most important features of the exterior. I really would hate to mess it up.

Thanks for your help.
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LOL! I get the willies knowing everyone can see in too. Okay, here's the thing. As much as I'd like to just change out the door and might very well end up doing it in the end, the "glass" in the doors is actually leaded crystal custom made by the original owner and they sparkle and look very beautiful. It would ruin the appearance of the doors by putting blinds or that sort of thing over them. Since posting last night, I checked out a drapery book and saw some very nice heavy drapes on rings that can easily be pulled to both sides. I don't have a lot of room on either side of the door so the sidelights would probably be partially covered even with the drapes open. If someone will give me a tip on how to insert a piccie into a message without having to switch to the gallery, I'll gladly scan it to show everyone. Thanks for your comments, I really appreciate it!
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greif
12 years ago
call someone with experince in to do it
2ajsmama
12 years ago
As long as he's meticulous, should be no problem. I have a ThermaTru door, I stained it myself Labor Day last year using Zar oilbased stain (not gel), you pretty much have to paint it on and just *leave* it, don't wipe it off, just feather it out. Used Sikkens Cetol Door and Window satin over it. No new pics, but it's held up pretty well over the winter. The Zar does *not* touch up well (found out when I tried to pick some stray hairs out after it had dried) on the fiberglas so you really have to be careful.

This was an oak grain but I used mahogany color.

About 2 months ago (trying out cushion fabric)

{{gwi:1440567}}

Originally (hadn't even put knob back on yet!)

Closeup (ignore the stained pine to the right - was trying to decide if I should make inside of door the same color - answer was no, I need to find something that goes with the pine trim)

A few dark spots where I tried to go back over where I picked out hairs

Flash

no flash

sample with Zar brushed on and left on

sample with 1 coat of Minwax gel (Cherrywood) left to sit and then wiped off per can instructions - didn't work

I really didn't have a problem with the sidelights. HTH

Fiber Glass Entry Door, First Time for Sub

Comments (4)

kellylp

Sidney4
Original Author

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Fiber Glass Entry Door, First Time for Sub

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kellylp

Sidney4Original Author

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greif

2ajsmama

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Sidney4
Original Author