Gentlemen:
Thanks to everyone’s help here, my basement project is nearing completion.
I’ve ordered some 3 panel A&C style doors. Because I was looking for a specific color, I had to order them unfinished. I wonder if anyone might have some advice about how I should have them finished.
Option 1: Install contractor has an HVLP sprayer and wants $85 plus stain costs per door to spray finish and sealer. ($425+ seems like a lot)
Option 2: Gel stain (to minmize drips and I would apply with a paint brush for corners and tight spaces). This would be a fairly cost effective option and I’ve got some experience with this now.
Option 3: Buy an HVLP sprayer and spray the doors myself. I’d have the HVLP for other projects, but I’m leary of my ability to do a good job with this.
I hope Option 2 will work, but should the doors be installed before they’re finished or vice versa?
I’m not ruling out option 1 either. Most of all, I’m really open to any ideas.
Thanks!
Replies
You can just pull the pins, and finish them anytime. If you're spraying the jambs, you might want to do that first. I've used finishes like waterlox that you apply with a rag, and they're easy to touch up too.
I tried doing a bunch of doors once with gel stain. I quit after the first side of the first door. Brush-on stain is tolerable, but still time consuming.
First thing I did was disassemble the jambs and remove all the hinges. Then I put two 4" screws in the top and bottom of the door slabs.
I made some sawhorses with 12' wide tops so I had plenty of room for the doors to dry. I would stain or varnish one side, then flip 'em over so dust wouldn't settle on them as they dried.
The sawhorses were about 6" 10" apart so the ends of the screws just barely caught them. That way no part of the dor touched the sawhorses.
I think it would be utterly insane to try to finish them in place. Just trying to keep the stuff from running would be a pain. Not to mention the posibility of someone bumping into them while they were still wet.
"Option 1: Install contractor has an HVLP sprayer and wants $85 plus stain costs per door to spray finish and sealer. ($425+ seems like a lot)"
I was curious what stain costs involve. Is that labor for staining or the cost of the materials? Or both?
I am a painting contractor in the midwest and $85 per door is not out of line. Will the contractor be spraying laquer or poly? Poly will require a sanding sealer prior to the finish. The door will need to be sanded between coats. Doors can be labor intensive and the cost reflects the effort. Remember the painter has equipment overhead and it takes 30+ minutes to clean a hvlp or airless after using it. This is time spent that the customer doesn't always think about.
Another option might be hiring the finisher on a time and materials basis. If you trust him not to drag his feet he will be paid for only time spent not a bid price. We bid a lot of jobs this way because it is a win win for the customer and us. I don't have to figure in the unknowns and the customer gets the job done at "cost".
Let me know
I am a painting contractor in the midwest and $85 per door is not out of line.
I am a painting/drywall contractor in New Orleans and my cost starts at $150 per side or $300 per door.
busta :0)
Thanks for the info guys.I'm sure $85 (plus materials) is probably a good price. But, since I have the time, I think I'll be doing the staining myself. These are 3 panel flat (ie no raised panels) doors. I'm not sure what type of finish to go with. I was thinking gel stain and then using a brush to get the corners. Will this work or should I just plan on spending the $$$$ for the contractor? (which I'm not opposed to doing)Thanks!