How to Lighten a Gel Stain on a Fiberglass Door
A gel stain is ideal to colour your fiberglass door, but sometimes it sticks too well to the surface and your door starts looking unusually dark. If you are also facing the same situation then don’t worry, you can easily make your door look brighter and fresher. All that you need to do is lighten the gel stain, which is not as difficult as it sounds.
Things Required:
– Screwdriver
– Gel stain
– Painter’s tape
– Plastic sheeting
– Paint thinner
– Lint-free cloth
– Mineral spirit
Instructions
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1
Using a screwdriver take all the door knobs, hinges and other parts off the glass door that needs maintenance, and put them aside in a safe place. Remove the weather stripping as well from the frame and bottom of the door, if you want. You can leave the stripping on as well, but removing it is a better option since it will keep it clean during the gel staining process.
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2
If there are glass panes on your door, run a line of painter’s tape around them. Also cover the glass with thin plastic sheets to keep it from staining. Secure the plastic sheets with tape.
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3
Take a lint-free cloth and dip it in a paint thinner. Wring out excess thinner and rub it onto the old stains that needs lightening. Change the cloth when it dries out, and start rubbing the stain with a new piece of cloth soaked in paint thinner. Keep on rubbing and changing cloths until the previous stain is completely gone.
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4
Allow the door to dry completely and then clean it thoroughly with a lint-free cloth dampened with mineral spirits to remove any residue, dirt or debris.
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5
Take a clean paint brush and dip it in the gel stain, so that it gets just a small amount of stain on the tip of the brush. Apply the stain first to the edges of the fiberglass door, then to the surfaces, followed by any raised panels. Paint the window frame in the end.
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6
Let the gel stain air dry for 24 hours.
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7
Apply three to five coats of a clear topcoat, allowing the door to dry completely before each coat.
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8
Reinstall the door furniture and weather stripping after the final coat has dried completely.
