Entry Door Finishing

My wife recently acquired an entry door to the front of our house which will replace the original. The new door is stained glass set in solid mahogany. Our intent is to stain and seal the door but we are unsure what would be the proper sealer to use. A friend suggested to stain the door and use some type of oil rather than something like a spar sealer. The door receives little to no direct sunlight. It is set back in an alcove at the back of an 8' wide porch and will have a full view storm door for added protection. We would appreciate any input you would choose to offer.

Thank you,
Philip

Eureka Springs in Arkansas ???

As your door is pretty well protected from the weather then I wouldn’t make this any more complicated then it need be.

Stain it if you are not happy with the present colour or shade.

No need to use a sealer.

Apply two or three coats of a good quality polyurethane varnish.

Every few years, recoat. Never let it get old enough to blister.

I wouldn’t use oil for a main entrance door - it’ll look dull and unfinished.

Spar varnishes in this part of the world are typically modified polys that go on very thick and are difficult to repair if you fall behind on maintenance. I guess if I felt I must have something better then a regular polyurethane varnish then I would go for a marine grade one - usually just higher quality with better uv protection and higher price tag.

Cheers
Arron

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Edit. I’m not quite sure how you are using the word ‘sealer’ in your post. Here it means a kind of primer specialised to stop leaching, stop excessive penetration, minimally fill grain etc - ie to condition the timber before putting on the undercoat or topcoat.

Arron,

Thank you for your quick response. We were mainly interested in putting a protective barrier over the door after staining that would compliment the door as well as add a little additional protection. Here in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas we have been experiencing a broad spectrum of temperatures ranging from triple digit in the summer to below 0 in the winter. Humidity runs from 20-100%. We just wanted to do justice to the door.

Have a great evening,
Philip