A vintage storm door can give your house character.
While it is not the main entry door, a storm door may be one of the first things people see when they look at your house. If you have a vintage storm door with character, it is worth preserving because of the curb appeal it can add. It usually isn't a particularly complex or time-consuming task to refinish one, provided the design doesn't include numerous slats or louvers. Storm doors are usually light enough to easily take down and lay on sawhorses, where you can do the messy job of stripping and sanding the old finish.
Instructions
1. Take the door down by unscrewing the hinges from the door frame. If the hinges have pins, you can also take it down by removing the pins. Lay the door on a pair of sawhorses and unscrew the hinges, latch or knob and any other hardware.
2. Remove the screen, if there is one, by prying off the trim around its perimeter with a slot screwdriver and prying out the staples holding it, if there are any. If the screen is held by rubber packing, find the end of the packing, work the screwdriver under it, pry it up and pull it out.
3. Spread paint stripper liberally on one face of the door with an old paintbrush. Let the stripper work until the finish begins to bubble, then scrape it off with a paint scraper, taking the old finish with it. Wash the face of the door with water to remove the stripper residue, then turn the door over and strip the other face in the same way. Let the door dry completely.
4. Sand both door faces with an orbital sander fitted with 100-grit sandpaper. Work the sander as closely as you can into corners and around moulding, and sand areas that it won't reach by hand with a folded-up sheet of sandpaper. When you are finished, sand the door again with 120-grit sandpaper to remove scratches and prepare the surface for a new finish.
5. Apply stain with a rag or leave the wood natural if you plan on applying a clear finish. Wipe the stain on, going with the grain of the wood, allow it to penetrate, then wipe off the excess with another rag.
6. Use a paintbrush to apply latex paint, exterior stain or a clear finish. Paint one coat while the door is lying flat on the sawhorses. Re-install the screen and door hardware when the paint dries and rehang the door in the door frame. Sand the finish lightly with 150-grit sandpaper, then paint the final coat while the door is hanging. Keep the door open while you paint and let the paint dry completely before you close it.
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