Lacquer for New Maple Exterior Door

[Markw]

Just purchased a new maple door and am now looking for some good advice on a finishing product. Tried the service lines for the big 3 Wattyl, Cabots & Feast (or should that read 2 as Cabots = Feast = Dulux) and couldn't seem to get what I would call good clear advice. The drips (pun intended) just seem to rely on their computer advice and data without any real product knowledge, must be from India in a call centre.

Anywho, the door faces northeast and therefore gets some UV but is screened with a security door with "one way" mesh and if its raining and blowing from the northeast then yes it will get some limited spray, read that as just damp.

The finish I would like to have needs just a little bit of light staining to bring out the red in the maple, estapol tradional cedar stain rubbed back with a cloth, then estapol sanding sealer and 4 coats of estapol satin finish. This was all tested on a piece of maple with an equal colour to the door, but I was howled down by the advice line staff as this is an interior system and therefore unacceptable for use on an exterior door.

Could some one please advise of an exterior system that would give excellent results and include the stain and clear coats. I would also need to know how to apply ie when to sand back etc.

with thanks

[markharrison]

The best clear finish, bar none, is none. They are more work in the long run. Ask any boat owner.

If however, you have decided to go down this path, the best clear finish is spar varnish. Stain as required and apply at least six thin clear coats of spar varnish. You will need to sand some coats to get a good even finish and I think six is the minimum number of coats.

I've used Universal Goldspar Original and it seems to hold up well. It isn't cheap and you can get it from Bias chandlery stores or from most other specialty boating chandlery stores.