Two coats of enamel paint over a primer will provide a wood door with the best and longest lasting protection against sun abrasion and weather about 8 to 10 years.
Best finish for oak front door.
1 coat of clear wood preservative.
The best clear finish for an exterior door is 3 coats of clear epoxy followed with 2 3 coats of spar varnish.
Trade acrylic varnish is also low odour low voc and quick drying.
Because its opaque pigments block the sun s uv rays an exterior grade oil or water based paint is the longest lasting and most protective finish you can apply.
The finish may look great when it is fresh but you will need to re apply it every year to keep it looking good.
The combination has worked amazingly well for me on a west facing exterior oak door that looks as good today as it did after refinishing 7 8 years ago.
My go to finish system for exterior doors is a combination of two products.
Followed by 3 5 coats of high quality tung oil such as morrells tung oil.
They also tend to stand up to nicks and scrapes better than flat or eggshell paint meaning they could last longer.
But a beautiful wood door with a clear finish will attract many more admiring glances as long as you maintain it with devotion.
What finish to use.
View finney s trade acrylic varnish.
The oak will react with the varnish when it is exposed to sunlight and the varnish will start to peel off quickly.
Use our trade acrylic varnish when you need a finish that is clear and doesn t really alter the natural colour of the oak veneer door.
Sand and reapply every five to six years.
Previous varnish only finishes only lasted 2 3 years.
Varnish is not a good choice for oak external doors.
Plus it comes in eye catching colors to improve your home s curb appeal.
These must be applied in multiple coats with meticulous initial and in between coat prep.
While you can choose any finish glossy paints are typically preferred for doors and trim because they stand out and highlight these architectural features.
Nothing beats paint for practicality.
A ledge and brace door finished with treatex clear matt the basic options available for oak interior doors are lacquer or oil hardwax oil and the right finish for your door is a combination of personal taste regarding the look and ensuring the finish is suited to the expected use of the door.