Asked on Mar 17, 2018

How to fix a wooden door that is peeling and cracking?

Lornarohr
by Lornarohr
Our stained and finished exterior door is peeling and looks horrible! Can anyone tell me how to fix it to look good again? Or do we have to buy a new one?


  10 answers
  • Charline Charline on Mar 17, 2018

    Give it a good sanding and re stain it or paint it.

  • Ellis Ellis on Mar 17, 2018

    There are also paint strippers you can use, if the door paint is really peeling badly. If it's a wood veneer and the veneer is peeling, you have a bigger problem. But if your old door is a nice, heavy wood door from bygone days, try to restore it.


    I like to check out advice columns on the web like This Old House or Family Handyman, etc., for detailed instructions when I'm facing a project like this.

  • Mcp22331334 Mcp22331334 on Mar 18, 2018

    I have a beautiful wooden door that gets evening sun on the bottom 3rd of the door. I have redone it twice in the last 15 years. It is very easy to do. Sand your door first and then brush or wipe on a wood conditioner, this helps condition the dry wood and makes the stain go on more evenly. Then stain, I usually put about 2-3 coats of stain because I like a deep reddish stain. Finally, do not use a poly urethan (I made that mistake the first time I restored my door and it peeled within 3 years). Use a spar urethan because it's for outdoor use and does not peel like the poly. I did 3 coats of the spar urethane. The door is beautiful and it didn't cost much to do it. Good luck to you!

  • Shoshana Shoshana on Mar 18, 2018

    This is a good way to take care of the cracks-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBEzcoPafG8

  • Colleen Colleen on Aug 12, 2020

    Are used CLR on my wood doors and it made the paint in the word bubble is there a way I can fix it

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Aug 12, 2023

    Sand down the door to remove everything down to the wood. Re-stain if that is what you prefer, then add several layers of spar urethane, letting it dry well between each layer. That should stand up well to the weather.


  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Oct 25, 2023

    Take the advice already given or get in a Painter Decorator to do it for you!

  • Janice Janice on Mar 06, 2024

    Sand the entire door well to get rid of the peeling area and the entire door is smooth to the touch. Use a damp cloth or tack cloth to remove every bit of the small bits of debris. Stain the door and let dry, then finish with a clear finish to protect the newly stained wood.