Front and entry doors
Single doors, double doors and doors with sidelights.
Wood entry doors · Longwood and Central Florida
Front door refinishing: restore the wood door you already have
Quick answer
If your front door is solid wood and still sound, refinishing it costs far less than replacing it. HandyMangum strips the old finish, sands to bare wood, stains if you want a new color and seals it with an exterior-grade clear coat made for sun and humidity. Most doors are done in one to two days. Call or text (407) 699-1123 for a free estimate.
What front door refinishing involves
Florida sun breaks down a door finish from the outside in. First the clear coat dulls and chalks, then it cracks and peels, and then the bare wood greys and starts to take on water. Refinishing takes the door back to clean wood and rebuilds that protection.
It is different from a quick wipe-on touch-up. A touch-up can freshen a door that is only a little dull, but on a peeling door it just puts new finish on top of a failing one.
Is refinishing right for your door?
- Solid wood doors that are faded, grey, blotchy or peeling
- Doors with sidelights or transoms in matching wood
- Doors you love but that look tired before a sale
- Not ideal: veneer that is lifting, soft or rotted wood, or a door that is badly warped (we will tell you if replacement makes more sense)
How the job goes
Look and quote
Send photos of the outside and inside faces, and tell us which way the door faces. We quote in writing.
Strip and sand
Hardware comes off, the old finish is stripped, and the wood is sanded smooth in steps so the stain takes evenly.
Stain and seal
Stain if you are changing the color, then several coats of an exterior-grade, UV-resistant clear finish.
Reinstall and adjust
Hardware goes back on, and we check the swing, latch and weatherstrip. We can fit new hinges or a new handle set at the same visit.
What we can refinish
Staircases and railings
Treads and rails refinished to match a refreshed door.
Furniture and wood pieces
Tables, built-ins and family pieces that need a careful strip and refinish.
Good to know
- How long a finish lasts depends mostly on sun. A shaded door under a deep porch can go several years between coats. A south- or west-facing door in full sun usually needs a light maintenance coat every year or two.
- A maintenance coat while the finish is still intact is a short job. Waiting until it peels means stripping again.
- Fiberglass doors can often be refinished too. Send a photo and we will tell you.
- Painted doors can be repainted rather than refinished if you prefer a solid color.
- Exterior door replacement can need a permit in Seminole County. Refinishing does not.
Related services
Front Door Refinishing FAQs
Is it cheaper to refinish or replace a front door?
If the door is solid wood and structurally sound, refinishing is almost always the cheaper option, and you keep a door that already fits the opening. Replacement makes sense when the wood is rotted, the veneer is failing or the door is badly warped.
How long does front door refinishing take?
Most doors take one to two days, depending on the condition of the old finish, the stain and the drying time between coats.
Do you take the door away?
No. We do the work at your home and schedule around you, so your home is not left with a temporary door for a week.
How long will the new finish last in Florida?
It depends on sun exposure. A shaded door can go several years before it needs attention; a door in full afternoon sun usually needs a light maintenance coat every year or two. We tell you what to expect for your door.
Can you change the color of my door?
Yes. Once the door is back to bare wood we can stain it lighter or darker. Very large color changes, especially going much lighter, depend on the wood.
Do you refinish fiberglass doors?
Often, yes. Send a photo and we will tell you what is possible.
How do I get an estimate?
Estimates are free. Call or text (407) 699-1123, or send the online request with a few photos. We send a written quote before any work starts.
Bring your front door back
Call or text (407) 699-1123, or send the online request with a few photos. Estimates are free on every job.