Replies

1. 
   Shep | Mar 18, 2004 04:14am | #1

     Paint is still the best finish for any exterior wood. Barring that, a spar varnish with an ultraviolet blocker would be your best choice. Be prepared to have to recoat every 3-4 years, tho, to keep the door looking its best.

1. 
   ahneedhelp | Mar 18, 2004 04:39am | #2

   re - Be prepared to have to recoat every 3-4 years, tho, to keep the door looking its best.

   --------

   Could this be extended a bit longer if the door/porch is sheltered and does not get direct sunlight ?

1. 
   mtbracer | Mar 18, 2004 06:07am | #3

   I live in sunny Denver and have found that UV from direct sunlight is the main problem.  The lower half of our front solid fir, clear coated door is damaged from the sun.  However, the upper half looks great after 18 years of no recoating.

   Best answer is keeping the UV from hitting the door directly.

1. 
   DanH | Mar 18, 2004 11:04pm | #7

   Re protecting the wood from UV, a semi-solid stain is best at this. Sikkens is the top of the line there.

2. 
   jocobe | Mar 18, 2004 02:34pm | #4

   I have solid mahogany doors on the front and back of my house, that I made.  I take them off the hinges, every couple of years, and lay them on saw horses.  I coat them with Deks Olya (marine store), never letting them dry, until it is seeping through the other side.  I flip the doors and repeat.  Then I wipe both sides dry.  Deks Olya is an oil finish.....never peels or flakes off.  Doors look great!  But I'm sure the best thing to do is keep the sun from hitting them in the first place!

   jocobe

3. 
   goldhiller | Mar 18, 2004 03:52pm | #5

   This subject has been discussed quite a few times here as you can likely imagine.

   You can use the advanced search feature to access a bunch of that. Search terms = wood exterior door. That worked for me anyway a minute ago.

   Here's just a few of those threads that showed up.

   http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=17171.1

   http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=30344.1

   http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=29555.1

   I've heard before that the Deks Olje is a good finish in the right circumstances, but I've never tried it myself.

   Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.
1. 
   NormKerr | Mar 18, 2004 07:21pm | #6

   My mahogany door is also covered with an oil (Teak oil) and after 4 years still looks great. Probably gonna re-treat it this summer just in case.

   Covered porch, almost 0 direct sun, glass "screen" door over it.

   Norm