How OLD is your new old house? There's your answer. They look just like the doors that were used in the 70's. Solid wood but not worth the effort. Now, 1770's different story.

Hi Jaysmom, the house was built in 1983 but I swear the builder had a lot of things left over from the seventies. I sort of want an excuse not to strip them down and re-stain even though part of me wants to pay homage to some of this stuff. They do look real nice painted. Stripping just this one down was not fun so maybe IâÂÂll get over the homage.

I like the doors. A lot. Good quality doors are not inexpensive - and new hollow-core doors are just junk, imho. Maybe try the stuff CEFreeman swears by; I tried it and it's fantastic: Citristrip.

Maybe IâÂÂll try that citristrip on the inside front double doors because those really require a stain. Still not sure about these bedroom doubles. ItâÂÂs not like prepping them for painting is all that much easier with all the dings and gloss. It took me forever to prep prime and paint three doors both sides and one door one side. I think IâÂÂll stare at it for a few days.

I've used Citristip too, and swear by it. I used CEFreeman's advice: put it on more like frosting than paint (fabulous description!); cover it completely with plastic, so it stays wet; wait a long time - at least overnight, 24 hours if you can stand it - to let the stuff do its thing; rinse with water, using a plastic scrubbie. Prepare to be amazed!

I just did a table at my Mom's. We only had the weekend, so we glopped Citristip on the table top in the morning, and unveiled in the evening. It took off two coats of yellow paint easily (except where the plastic wasn't sealed well). There was residual primer, especially in the heavy oak grain. We did a second coat, and let it sit overnight. Next morning, we got down to bare wood, no problem.

Good luck!

Where do you all buy this magical product? I do not recall seeing it in the big box stores, but then I wasnâÂÂt looking. I have lots of plastic! I bought a big painters role at a garage sale thirteen or more years ago for two dollars and IâÂÂm still not to the end yet.

Got mine at Home Depot, but I'm sure you can get it at a big hardware store, too. This is the stuff we're talking about, but you can also buy Citristrip in a bottle that will clean better than just about anything.

Here is a link that might be useful: Citristrip paint remover

Thanks Tomato!
I should have asked if anyone has examples of nicely stained 70's type builder grade solid doors.

I get mine at Ace Hardware.

When you look at the cost of solid wood doors ... stripping, sanding and painting looks reasonable.

The key, as CEFreeman pointed out is apply liberally, cover with plastic wrap and let it soak .... "Patience, Grasshopper, patience."

the doors already fit the frames

Progress report! Well, it was worth it! Considering the shape they were in IâÂÂm happy with the finished product, now I just need to topcoat. I tried to hire painters to prep and prime the other doors near and in bathroom area so I could paint them and they did such a horrible job I have to strip it all down and start over. IâÂÂm talking big dried drips of primer everywhere and really bad caulking. IâÂÂm also fixing all the walls that my immediate gratification husband primed over before properly sanding the joint compound. Someday I will be finished with the master bedroom and bath remodel.
AFTER

Those turned out very, very nice! Totally worth the effort! What stain color did you use?

Hang in there with all of the other projects. It can be maddening to do and redo things, but when it's done, it will be perfect.

Thanks Franksmom!!! The house IâÂÂm in now already has a âÂÂcherryâ theme in the kitchen but itâÂÂs a tic rustic contemporary so IâÂÂm going with that but with a spin. So, the stain is cherry. I did make good headway on the stripping of nastiness on the bathroom door frames after the picture above. And, I think IâÂÂve fixed husbands wall fairly well. IâÂÂm starting to see light at the end of this particular tunnel. Then the pool area lol!

Wow, they really look beautiful.

Thank you Lazydaisynot! This is the whole area of my old new house I'm working on at the moment. I'm the subcontractor and LABOROR gr.

Here is a link that might be useful: Master bedroom & bath

Looks gorgeous. I am glad you saw this project through. You are doing a terrific job and those doors are sure worth the effort .go girl.

Thank you Westsider40! I had my doubts while working in high heat and humidity on the back patio but I lived through it. Glad itâÂÂs over but I do like them.

Wow, what a difference and totally worth the effort!

They look fabulous! I'm so surprised you kept at them; when I last read, I assumed you were going to give up on them. So glad you didn't. A tree or two somewhere thanks you!

Awesome. Probably the best those doors have ever looked.

Thank you HollyKay!

Olychick, my momma didnâÂÂt raise no quitter lol. Sometimes itâÂÂs unfortunate that I donâÂÂt give up on some things though but itâÂÂs not in my blood. Now that they are done IâÂÂm glad I kept at it.

Marcolo, nice to see you! I donâÂÂt think they looked great to start with either. However, I do like the idea of saving some original things no matter how bad. In my mind I like to envision the original owners coming in and still being able to recognize stuff⦠but with a spin. ThatâÂÂs why I didnâÂÂt take the whole Fred Flintstone fireplace out. I just removed the upper half and added a mantel. The âÂÂbeforeâ door finish also went around the entire house ceiling molding and looked horrible with eight foot walls. The moldings are now painted the same as wall color but in a semi-gloss (the ceiling looks like it grew a few feet higher), except master where the molding is in the baseboard color. ItâÂÂs amazing how little things can make such a difference in this little 80âÂÂs house.

They look good. Did you determine their age or what wood they are? The stain you used is perfect for them too. Please post another picture when they are hung.

I am curious , did you end up using the Citristrip or did you find something else.

Hey Marti, these are 1983 doors, solid wood with wood veneer face. It was tricky because there were dog scratches and lots of dings. These couldnâÂÂt be sanded down too far. I watched a YouTube video on refinishing gun stocks and learned how to steam out some of the imperfections. In case you donâÂÂt know you put a wet white cotton sock over the ding and steam it with an iron. That process helped a little. Wait till dry and sand.

Lyban, I actually used three different strippers. The one that worked the best was Klean-Strip for the years of layers of varnish/lacquer or whatever the heck all that clear coat stuff was plus stain plus some paint plus some gelâ¦Next best was Citristrip. In third place was Strypeeze. I think it depends on the surface. For the primer only that was badly painted in drips onto the previously stained bathroom door surrounds the Citristrip was the clear Winner. Those surrounds did not seem to have multiple clear coats but did have stain. The Citristrip is thick and stuck to the surrounds without draining off all over the place.