How to Paint a Door to Look Like Wood 7 Shades to Choose From!

Tired of having an ugly metal or fiberglass front door? The entrance of your home is the first impression, which makes painting wood grain on a steel door a budget-friendly way to upgrade - if it’s done right! This easy step-by-step tutorial with video will show you how to make a metal door look like stained wood with latex paint samples and glaze! Check out the full supply list and tutorial here:
renovatedfaith.com/how-to-paint-a-door-to-look-like-wood/
This process is also great for interior doors, fiberglass doors and even garage doors. Also, you can apply a more rustic farmhouse look with 7 different shade options.

[@johnnyteague3407]

I do this every day with custom built solid steel doors. It makes easier work to thin the oil based gel stain just a little with paint thinner. We do it over a base coat of powder coating and then a baked on clear coat. You did a great job. It seems to work better with cheap brushes

[@BethanyWhitworth-n1x]

Hi Johnny, I am looking at doing this for my personal garage door. We purchased the home with an existing white metal garage door. Seems to have an enamel or hardened finish. Would I just lightly sand what's there, and then apply the thinned oil-based get stain or would I need to apply an adhesion primer, and then paint a base coat + the thinned oil-based gel stain? I wouldn't be able to bake on a clear coat, but what options would make sense, since I'd have to apply it on the installed door? Thanks!

[@johnnyteague3407]

@@BethanyWhitworth-n1x how I did my garage doors is I washed it door, got a can of liquid sandpaper, wiped the door to remove the gloss. Then I went and got a can of kilz original oil based primer, had them tint it to a tan color. Applied the primer, allowed it to dry overnight. Then I applied my oil based thinned gel varnish and allow it to dry. Finally,I applied two coat of satin finish oil based varnish. Scuff the first coat with 000 steel wool and apply second coat....it has last 9 years so far. All my neighbors could not believe it was not a wood garage door.

[@ScratchLife]

I did my garage it is gorgeous!!!!This really works and works well!!!

[@sharps1759]

Can clear glaze be added to gel stain? And thank you for this video. I ended up loving my door in parts, but used gel stain and not glaze. It dried too fast. I shoukd have followed your instructions. Love your video. Your door turned out beautiful.

[@marylou7230]

Wow, this is hands down the most detailed, and best final results video I've seen! Beautiful job!

[@2cmrinhfx]

Just found this & am so grateful . It was exactly what I needed! Is your blogpost linked ? ( I am on my phone so a bit more challenging to find ). Thank you , I am excited to do this !

[@angelitawilliams5816]

Wow what a great job you did on this door. Beautiful!

[@RenovatedFaith]

Thank you so much!

[@lisettelinsangan9215]

Hi. Thank you for this! what are the measurement of the mixture of paint, glaze and water? Thank you in advance.

[@sitav6661]

Please see the blog post she has detailed description there.

[@farmergal4253]

Love the color! Thanks for this excellent how to!

[@briannablasingame5394]

Hey! I read the post a few times, in the supplies list, and under standing and listened to the video a few times. I did check out the blog post on sanding as well but ended confused. What grit sandpaper did you use to sand the door before and after priming?

[@RenovatedFaith]

Hey Brianna, I think I answered your question on the blog comment. Anything from 120-240 will work as far as sanding grit. Thanks for your patience! :)

[@MikexR08]

Would you have to sand a brand new door that’s already primed????

[@DeputyRJCH]

I would like to do my front entry door in a golden oak finish. Is this possible? If so, what paints would I need. Building is my thing, colors not so good.

[@perivlahopoulos9006]

Hey, this is a great video! I would say the best I have seen lately . Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@lovebrothers792]

After base coat which color paint u use

[@marisawoods]

I LOVE this! You did such a great job! ❤

[@RenovatedFaith]

Thank you so much for that Marisa!

[@tuckerdesignswv]

How has the glaze held up after 2 years of exposure to the elements?

[@RenovatedFaith]

I'm happy to say it has done incredibly well. It looks the same as the day I first painted it. I think using the exterior top coat I mention is the key.

[@ilvcountry]

I was looking at Retique-it to do my countertops, could I do this instead and just add a food-safe top coat? This seems to be a less expensive way to do it. Thanks for the video.

[@4theFaith]

How many hours would you say this took. Also, how did you cover your front door area while your door was not on?

[@RenovatedFaith]

This took a few days but I also spread it out because I was taking pictures and video. Yes, I did cover the entrance while the door was down.

[@SherriAuld]

I want a darker closer to black what color do you recommend

[@debbieburns-c3h]

I cant find the list of paints and glaze that you used Can you please help

[@MeMe-yc7uq]

Great tutorial! However, after skimming the blog I did not find the correct base color to achieve an Early American shade as the final color. Do you have a simple chart showing base and glaze colors for all shades listed? Thank you!

[@MeMe-yc7uq]

Never mind...My laptop originally did not load the section with the shades. All good now! Will let you know how it goes!

[@mallorydeardeuff1743]

When painting the base color, should you do two coats if primer is still showing through?

[@RonaldLayman]

Yes

[@catherinelane6984]

Could you do this to outdoor plastic shutters?

[@ricardorodriguesrr18]

yeah same process

[@RenovatedFaith]

Yes, but use a spray paint prime and it will go faster. I like Rustoleum.

[@kimberlystancato9306]

I used a gel stain and I have let it sit for overnight and it’s still wet and so I thought I would try another coat and it is wiping off the other coat also I sanded the metal door then painted it I didn’t use a primer paint though is that the mistake I made

[@Cirelli_Ryan]

Where is the separate info that you said was on the post ? Like the 7 colors to use

[@sitav6661]

go to her blog spot keep going down she says it all in that.

[@bsdcreative911]

Marvellous work 👌🏻👌🏻

[@pslangel6169]

Nice job i will try this today thanks so much for the info.

[@MM-yu2gh]

Thanks for this work

[@llc1976]

Really nice!

[@heather1078]

Are the paint colors listed? I can’t find them.

[@RenovatedFaith]

Look at the link in the description and let me know if you have questions! 😃

[@marthaperez3212]

What about if I want something more like walnut color?

[@RenovatedFaith]

Hey Martha! Try this post for different color options. Just follow it with the exterior clear coat I mention: renovatedfaith.com/paint-that-looks-like-stain/ Hope this helps!

[@dot2dal]

Did you do the same process on both sides?

[@RenovatedFaith]

Hey Dorothy! You can but I opted not to because it's just the inside of our garage.

[@dot2dal]

@@RenovatedFaith that makes sense!

[@kathleenlopez9212]

Badass I just gt my tool like I can't to start on mine..

[@RenovatedFaith]

That's great Kathleen! Let me know how it turns out!

[@MinZhao-hq9bl]

please show off the paint can which you used, that will be more help.

[@jades361]

it’s in the description.

[@kimberlystancato9306]

Gel stain stays wet

[@wansukkongwangkongwang9298]

You don't know how to explain

[@RenovatedFaith]

@@wansukkongwangkongwang9298 See the blog post that goes with it. It has ALL the details.

[@kathleenlopez9212]

Could u please slow down u no how to do it supposed to be teaching us to fast

[@RenovatedFaith]

Sorry about that Kathleen. If you go to the link in the comments it has the full process with more details. Hope that helps!