How to keep softwood door looking as natural wood.

[Diyisfun]

I have had this door fitted as a side door to a garage http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/164542/?source=123_75

I was going to paint it white, but it looks so nice as it is, natural.

Whilst it is fitted to the exterior it is under a car port, so it will never get wet, I also have soft wood architrave round it.

What can I treat it with to keep it looking as it does?.

 

[TheDec]

Whatever you apply will tend to slightly darken your door, it's the nature of the beast i'm afraid, yet the amount of darkening will be both cut and grain dependant. Choose a clear exterior oil based varnish and thin your first coat around 10%, when dry and working with the grain lightly sand and apply two finish coats thinned around 5% spirit not forgetting to lightly abrade between coats.

Dec

 

[libby lou lou]

Try taking a few offcuts to a shop and go from there, most people will open a tin or two.

 

[TheDec]

Would you like the op to cut sections out of his door to achieve this, or search for the original tree that the timber came from in order to establish it.

Dec

 

[libby lou lou]

I was on about the architrave

 

[TheDec]

Really, fair enough then.



Dec

 

[Diyisfun]

Dec, thanks for advice, I was thinking along the lines of matt clear varnish.

 

[TheDec]

Well a matt is ok but will have a tendancy to dull down the grain, just an opinion here yet if it was me I would tend to lean towards a satin finish, but at the end of the day it's your choice.

Dec

 

[Diyisfun]

Well a matt is ok but will have a tendancy to dull down the grain, just an opinion here yet if it was me I would tend to lean towards a satin finish, but at the end of the day it's your choice.

Dec

Ok satin it will be, again many thanks.

 

[TheDec]

I wish you all the best, good luck to you!

Dec

 

[Diyisfun]

Update,
I have given the door & frame 2 coats of satin, it looks just like it did before I treated it. Just what I was after. I will probably give the door another coat as I have varnish remaining.

 

[TheDec]

Good to here, glad it all worked out ok for you.

Dec