Wet or tacky gel stain can be removed easily with a rag moistened with mineral spirits.
Gel stain garage door urethane.
This is the key to success.
Since we moved into our home our brown painted aluminum garage door had faded more and more.
Staining the doorjamb door frame the gel stain can also be used to stain the doorjamb door frame and mullions.
Select a cheap brush.
Think of stain as the color and top coat as the sealer and protectant.
The beauty of gel stain comes from the thick urethane which can carry a lot of color to any surface but that color must be sealed in with.
Yes it does take a little more work but you won.
All stains need a top coat.
These bubbles are permanent and can ruin the finished look.
Clean your garage door first.
We purchased a new very expensive plastpro fiberglass w alder type grain entry door south facing last may and had a very reputable door finisher apply minwax gel stain chestnut 3 coats along with helmsman spar urethane clear satin 3 coats.
We ve lived in our home almost 7 years now.
Or you can follow the direction of the garage door pattern.
These instructions are also helpful for other simulated wood surfaces.
Our gel stained garage door makeover happened one year ago so i m giving you guys an update.
Transform your garage door to a gorgeous faux wood door with this easy gel stain diy garage door makeover.
We did not use oil base at all for this tutorial.
To complete the graining process wait until the first coat of minwax gel stain is completely dry 24 48 hours then apply a second coat of gel stain with a natural bristle brush in the direction of the grain pattern created.
Affiliate links included for your convenience we used a less than 20 can of gel stain to transform our paint faded aluminum garage door.
Your doors will last a lot long using water based products.
We chose this gel stain in mahogany.
When brushing work on each section of the door at a time and try to mimic the direction of natural wood grain.
If your garage door is less than five years old and has a glazed paint finish you ll have to sand it to remove the sheen in order for the stain to adhere properly.
However the garage door will need to sit for up to 48 hours to allow the stain to dry completely.
Do not shake the gel stain or it will bubble as you apply it.
Gel stain usually dries very quickly especially on a sunny day.
Choose the right stain color.
Instead gently stir don t whip the gel stain with a stir stick.
Tips for a diy garage door makeover and how to gel stain a garage door to look like wood.
Depending on the condition of the paint that s currently on your metal garage door you may have to do a little sanding to remove any superficial rust.
The high urethane content of general finishes gel stains results in a lustrous finish that tends to fool people into assuming no sealant is required.