I have an unfinished solid wood front door, should I paint or stain?

I have hard wood floors in a brazilian cherry color. My trim is solid oak with a red mahogany stain. The door is beautiful. I want to make sure I can keep it that way.I have an unfinished solid wood front door, should I paint or stain?
DON'T!!!!! Stain it yet.





First I would shellac it. Shellac dries pretty fast. You should be able to put three coats on in one day. You can put a second coat on without sanding. After the second coat you should sand and wipe the dust with a tack cloth which can be purchased a home center for less than a dollar. If you don't like the finish after a couple of years the shellac will be much easier to remove than stain and poly or whatever you use to seal it.





Good Luck


Moskie257I have an unfinished solid wood front door, should I paint or stain?
Definitely stain!!! Then protect it with a clear finish...several coats.
Stain! But, if it's pine, apply a conditioner before the stain. Pine takes stain poory, but the conditioner helps
stain it and polyurethane. excellent.
Stain all the way!
STAIN!!
Either is fine. It is all personal preference. Whichever you decide to do just be sure and keep up the maintenance (Repainting or putting a clear coat on the stain) every couple of years.
If you love the color then don't pain or stain. just seal it with a clear coat , let it dry and put another coat on and assure yourself of the color you love for many years.
stain


paint, you'll have to paint again
I would go with stain. I always think that keeping things as close to natural appearance is best.
stain and a urathane top coat will protect the door better than paint. And it will look really good.