Replies

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Sep 06, 2006 03:35pm | #1

   The short answer is that there is nothing you can treat an exterior door with that will satisfactorily protect the door from "driving rain in the winter" and, at the same time, preserve the natural color and wood finish. I'd use a good latex paint. But if you want to take a stab at a clear finish, true spar varnish is your best bet. It'll probably last a year or so before you have to strip it and start all over again. Then after a few years of this hopeless game, you'll end up painting it anyway.  ;-)

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

2. 
   GUNN308 | Sep 07, 2006 07:26am | #2

   I have used McCloskeys spar varnish sucessfully for years, on raw wood cut first coat 25% with turps then 2 or 3 more coats cut 5% -10% just so it flows on easier use gloss as it has better UV resistance. Have used this on Pine, Fir & Oak all have gone at least 3 yrs before needing recoating the fir door has gone 5 yrs and still looks great and its on the south side. Make sure you seal all six surfaces with at least 3 coats I also seal behind butts & locksets at least 1 coat.

3. 
   SteveSchoene | Sep 07, 2006 07:30pm | #3

   Driving rain is easy.  Any spar varnish will work OK. 

   The issue is whether the door will see sunshine.  One UV enters the picture you need the best marine spar varnish you can find, and you also should expect to do maintenance.  McCloskey Spar is OK for out of the sun.  Otherwise,it isn't in the same league as the true marine products--Interlux Schooner, Pettitt Captain's and Epifanes Gloss.  In the sun these will last two or three times longer.  Two or three coats isn't enough either.  The manufacturers of each of the quality products recommend about 6 coats.  You need to patch any "dings" promptly, and add sand lightly and apply an additional coat as soon as you see any slight dulling of the surface.  This would be annually in full sun in the South--much less with only partial sun, or in the North. 

   Paint is by far the more durable finish for wood in the sun. 

4. 
   jackplane | Sep 08, 2006 08:26pm | #4

   I'd use Penofin, the exterior one. Check out a gallon.

    

1. 
   gb93433 | Sep 09, 2006 12:01am | #5

   Just make sure you finish the most important part of the door, the top and bottom.