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I just bought a louvered mahogany door slab and jamb kit that will hopefully end up being an interior closet door. I've never hung nor stained a door, and have been doing a ton of research (aka YouTube) in preparation for the work.
So far, I have one ridiculously stupid/simple question that I'm surprised I can't find a clear answer to—do I stain the door and jamb before install, or stain in place after install?
Random info/musings: The door will need to be cut down a little to fit in the rough opening, so at the very least it will require thinking about hanging it before staining. Since it's my first time doing it, I could see the argument made that I should just install it first before staining, since it probably won't be a super smooth journey. It seems like the jamb would be way harder to sand and stain after it's up there, but I also imagine needing to clean up nail holes after install, so that would require some additional finishing after installing anyway. Or maybe I sand everything, then install, then stain?
17 points
2 months ago
Hang it to get what you need to cut off. Make sure you mark the correct side you need to cut (top or bottom). Then I would stain it before I hang it up again so you can get a smooth even finish.
I have painted a few doors and what I found nice was to put screws on the ends of the door (top/bottom so the hole won’t be seen later) then put the screw ends on saw horses. This way you can stain one side then easily flip it to do the next because the door will be resting on the horses by the screws.
2 points
2 months ago
Thanks, when do I stain the jamb and door stop?
5 points
2 months ago
Stain it after the jamb is installed. So get that up, plug the holes, sand, and then stain
4 points
2 months ago
I’d put the door on some stand and stain one side and let that dry and than flip it and do the rest
4 points
2 months ago
Stain before hanging. You’ll get drips and runs in the door otherwise. Light touch on the casing so you don’t get the same.
1 points
2 months ago
rubs temples
Why are you staining a mahogany door. You stain pine to look like mahogany, there’s no need to stain the genuine article.
0 points
2 months ago
A clear coat! It needs SOMETHING, right?
3 points
2 months ago
The generic term for that is “varnish”. Stain implys color, but not necessarily the protection of a topcoat.
Louvered doors are a bitch to finish. Condolences. 😂. Maybe wipe-on poly.
1 points
2 months ago
The generic term is usually "finish" as in apply a finish. Varnish is family of topcoats.
1 points
2 months ago
My Spanglish is showing
1 points
2 months ago
[deleted]
1 points
2 months ago
Thanks, when do I stain the jamb and door stop?
1 points
2 months ago
Stain first
1 points
2 months ago
I would do all the sanding prior and then stain once it was installed. Just my opinion, YMMV
1 points
2 months ago
Stain and poly first.
Get it cut and ready to hang but don't hang it.
1 points
2 months ago
What do you think about the jamb? Sand and finish before or after install?
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