Staining A Fiberglass Door

Traditions2

This might be a dumb question. I've stained two fiberglass doors to look like wood. They were both bare looking. Like a yellowish tan color. I have a customer on a new home that wants theirs done. The door is white. Are the materials different to stain these doors? THe doors were both fiberglass. Will the door being white be a problem to stain. My builder said that you have to specify when ordering if it is going to be stained? Any insights?

genecarp

not really sure about the white, we have always gel stained the tan. check with the manufacturer, i would think a tan primer might be the way to go.

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sprayer48

never saw the white doors. usually the fiberglass doors are sort of a pale color.

we usually lay the door flat on saw horses, stain with a gel stain and do not work it too much. may require a second coat.
Topcoat with whatever the stain or door says.
mark.

Patrick

It must be a stainable door if you are going to stain it. If this is a therma-tru door, the white is a smooth star door which is not stain able. You would want them to swap out the slab for a fiber classic slab which is tan and is stain able.

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Originally Posted by Celtic
Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.

Traditions2

thanks for the replies. We switched the door out already. They want a really dark brown stain. Any ideas on a gel stain color.

RCPainting

I have painted the white doors with a light beige before using Old Masters Gel Stain.
Here are a few different colors
http://gallery.me.com/haught1#100087

Traditions2

what is the color of the first door? Is it old masters?

RCPainting

It is a combination of Cherry and Dark Mahogony, Old Masters Gel Stain

UK Painter.

I have found that I get the best results by using a gel stain and by applying the same rules that are laid down for woodgraining.
Basically, you take the lightest color of the desired wood and use that as your basecoat, I'm sure a tinted primer would be ok.
So an example would be golden oak or light oak which would require a pale buff color. Or if a mahogany door was desired a very pale salmon color would be required. I'm sure your local paint store could get you more info from whoever produces the gel stain in your area.

LizTaylor

I stain firbeglass doors at distributor level.

Generally a wipe-on wipe-off technique for oak colour is sufficient with not a lot of 'overlap' problems.

To achieve a darker colour (walnut or mahogany) the drying conditions are critical.

A heavy bodied wiping stain or gel stain needs to be worked until the stain colour starts to dry and become darker.

The woodgraining technique is essential as the stain 'lays' on top of the door and needs to be specifically 'cut off' by the next panel giving the constructed door appearance.

Most companies recommend a primer if these buff coloured doors are painted, therefore if you are considering using a base colour it should be primed first.

Flat exterior paint is recommended to 'grip' the stain but to use a primer AND an exterior paint could affect the depth of texture.

I have found Fresh Start a good combination of primer with a flat finish.

I normally wouldn't use a primer before staining but occasionally there are some doors that benefit from a consistent surface application to eliminate the 'blotchy' appearance if stained directly.

The primer can be tinted to compliment the final colour.

If the above suggestions do not achieve the desired depth of colour, the stain can be reapplied in a couple of days.

I would not recommend use of the 'kits' available with some doors.

It took about 10 coats of the cherry to get to a questionable 'orangey' colour.

Masters and Flecto gels are by far the best.

Be aware too that the clear coat choice is important.

I have been woodgraining for almost 30 years and there is no question that an exterior application of anything other than Flecto results in peeling if exposed to sun.

Flecto (oil or water based) takes on a chalky appearance and can be refreshed easily...although they are constantly changing their formula which I find frustrating...though we have to trust our product!

Other varnishes may work well on wood but with no 'absorbtion' to steel or fibreglass doors, peeling is a definite issue.

Cache

LizTaylor,

I'm assuming the Flecto Varathane (one step gel stain /polyurethane) are no good for this application?

On a different note. Are the Flecto Wood Putties as good as the stains and varnishes?

{edit} nevermind, just realized that it is indoor use only.

LizTaylor

Even if you were to be using it for an interior application the one step gel stain/polyurethane is not something I would ever consider using.

The stain needs to be worked into the texture and smoothed out at just the right moment for a clean finish.

I couldn't imagine the combination product would be even slightly worthwhile trying.

I could be wrong as I have never tried it.

I love all Flecto products..they have proved themselves over the years to me.

Even their interior gel stain left uncoated is durable over many years, even in an outside application!

Unfortunately, as I mentioned before, they often change the formula so its really difficult to know for sure, the durability of the new products and changed formulas.

Achieving a good 'clean' dark stained finish to the doors is very difficult. Even after years of experience, I still continue to find it a battle with some manufacturer's doors to get them as perfect as possible.

I have no idea how homeowners are expected to do the same when they are supplied with the 'kit'..