How to Stain a Wood-Like Texture Fiberglass Door

Fiberglass entry doors are the perfect low-maintenance option that offer realistic wood grain finishes that are nearly indistinguishable from real wood.

When it comes to achieving a realistic wood-like effect on fiberglass, the most important aspect is choosing a door with a realistic fiberglass wood grain texture, and the second most important aspect is applying a professional level primer, stain, and finish on top. Below are the steps to achieving a professional level stain for your fiberglass door.

Prepping Your Door

1. Lay the door flat on padded sawhorses or on any flat, even surface off of the ground to prevent scratching your door. Be sure to use cloth padding instead of plastic, so that dripped stain is not spread around.
2. Remove all hardware and cover any glass edges with painters tape.
3. As the final step before staining, wipe the door down with a wet lint-free cloth. Use a mix of 10% vinegar and 90% water. You can use acetone or mineral spirits if your door has not been primed yet. Check with your manufacturer to see if your fiberglass door arrives pre-primed.
4. If you are also staining fiberglass jambs, repeat all the steps above and below.
5. Extra Tip: There is no need to sand the surface of your fiberglass door beforehand, and doing so might reduce the realistic appearance of the wood-grain surface.

Room Conditions

• Your fiberglass door should sit for at least 24 hours after delivery before priming or staining, to allow the door to adjust to your climate.
• Staining should be completed in a dust-free area to achieve a smooth finish, and completed out of direct sunlight to allow the stain to adhere and dry properly.
• The room temperature should be between 50 - 80°F to allow the stain to apply and dry properly, as well.
• A respirator and extremely well-ventilated area is highly recommended when applying stain and top-coat due to VOCs emitted by staining products.

Applying a Primer

Our unstained Krosswood Fiberglass Doors do not arrive with a primer already applied to the surface, so if you've purchased a Krosswood Door it is recommended that you follow the priming step. Consult your door manufacturer to see if a primer has already been applied to your fiberglass door. If your fiberglass door has not been pre-primed, follow the steps below to apply a bonding primer before staining the surface, as the stain needs a primer to adhere to. Some brands you can use are Zinsser Bulls Eye 1 2 3 Primer, KILZ Adhesion Primer, or BEHR Bonding Primer.

Pro Tip: We recommend trying to use the same brand of primer as your stain. If you use a BEHR Primer, it is recommended that you use a BEHR Stain. Please consult a professional painter or contractor if you are able to at this point.

1. Thoroughly mix the primer with a stir stick.
2. To avoid any brush strokes we use a paint sprayer to apply primer, but a good alternative is a high-density paint roller. You will also need a medium-large paint brush to even out the primer at the end.
3. Starting on the center panels, use the high-density foam paint roller to apply the primer moving with the direction of the faux "wood grain".
4. Next, apply the primer to the horizontal and vertical stiles and rails, and then finally the edges of the door.
5. Use a clean 2" brush to even out the primer of any streaks before allowing it to dry.
6. Allow the primer to dry fully. Follow the instructions on the manufacturer's label of your priming product to determine drying time.

Staining

Using a multi-purpose stain which is compatible with your primer is crucial to the look and longevity of your fiberglass door. We recommend an oil-based gel wood stain, like the MinWax Multi-Surface Gel Stain, but you can also use any oil-based multi-surface stain, such as the ZAR Semi-Transparent Oil-Based Stain. If you are able to, it is also recommended that you consult your contractor at this point. To apply stain, follow the steps below:

1. Thoroughly mix the stain with a stir stick.
2. Starting on the center panels, use a lint-free cloth in a circular motion to cover the faux wood grain with a thin layer. Use a Q-tip to apply stain to any deep grooves and corners.
3. To prevent stain pooling in the corners, use a dry brush to move the stain away from the corners. Wipe excess stain off of the brush using a dry cloth.
4. Next, apply the stain to the horizontal and vertical stiles and rails, and then finally the edges of the door using the lint-free cloth.
5. Use a clean 2" brush to even out the primer of any streaks and excess stain before allowing it to dry. Again, wipe excess stain off of the brush using a dry cloth.
6. Allow the first layer of the stain to dry fully before flipping your door around to repeat steps 1-5 on the other side. Follow the instructions on the manufacturer's label of your staining product to determine drying time.
7. Depending on your preferred stain depth and color, apply 1-2 additional layers of stain repeating the steps above. Allow each layer to dry fully before applying the next one.

Top Coat

Applying a clear polyurethane top coat is one of the most important steps when staining fiberglass, and should not be skipped because it greatly protects the wear and longevity of your stain against small scratches and stain color changes, as well as sun, rain, and snow damage. Be sure to choose a top coat with UV protection, such as the Helmsman Spar Urethane pictured above.

1. Thoroughly mix the clear top coat with a stir stick.
2. Using a 3" foam brush or flat top oil-based paint and stain soft bristle brush, apply the clear coat on top of your dried stain, moving in the direction of the faux wood grain. Start from the center panels and work outward in the same order that the stain was applied in.
3. Once the top coat has been applied, allow it to dry for several hours before flipping the door around to apply top coat to the other side. Carefully follow the top coat manufacturer's recommendation on dry time.
4. Apply at least two coats of the spar urethane top coat to ensure the fiberglass surface is adequately covered and protected. Allow each layer of top coat to dry fully before applying another coat. Follow the manufacturer's recommendation on dry time for the clear top coat.

The Completed Look

Krosswood BRIGHTON Wood-Like Texture Modern Clear Glass Fiberglass Door in Teak

Once your door has fully dried, you're done! You can now reapply or install your hardware such as hinges, doorknobs, and latches and install onto the front or back of your home. We hope you enjoy your wood-like texture fiberglass door for years to come.