FAQs – Door Refinishing Questions | Rick's Front Door Refinishing

Question 1

How long does door refinishing take?

Accepted Answer

Under normal circumstances it takes approximately 3–4 hours to refinish a single side door. Double doors take 4–6 hours. Rick has personally taken down, refinished, and re-hung an 8' door in 2 hours by himself — but he's pretty awesome though!

Question 2

Why would it take longer?

Accepted Answer

Stripping extra coats of finish may slow us down — shellac, multiple layers of paint, excessive damage, or refinishing more than one door can all add time.

Question 3

Do you repaint the iron on my door?

Accepted Answer

We can soft sand and repaint for an additional charge. We can quote once we see the photo of your entry door(s).

Question 4

Do I need to be home during the refinishing?

Accepted Answer

You do not need to be present the entire time, but we do ask that someone be available at the start and end of the job to review the work and ensure your satisfaction.

Question 5

What is included in the door refinishing process?

Accepted Answer

Our process includes stripping the old finish, sanding the wood smooth, applying a premium stain in your chosen color, and finishing with multiple protective clear coats. We also handle minor wood repairs as needed.

Question 6

What type of finish do you put on the doors?

Accepted Answer

We use a Marine Grade Spar Urethane with a UV blocker. This is an oil-based finish, which means it will last longer than a water-based acrylic that some of our competitors use.

Question 7

What is the Armor Coat upgrade?

Accepted Answer

Armor Coat adds two additional protective clear coats on top of our standard finish. This provides extra durability and UV protection, which is especially valuable in Houston's intense sun and heat. We highly recommend it — especially if your door gets any sun at all.

Question 8

Why does the horizontal bottom board look lighter after being refinished?

Accepted Answer

This is an optical illusion caused by light reflecting off of the horizontal wood grain. Sometimes you can take a step to the left or right and the illusion will disappear. Take a look at your door from the inside — you may see the same optical illusion you never noticed before. Look at a neighbor's door to see if you notice the same thing. There is nothing we can do about this. It does not happen to all doors and it's not from a lack of stain. The only way to fix it is to go darker with your door color. This is not a warranty issue.

Question 9

What caused the tiny little bubbles that popped up on my door after your craftsmen left?

Accepted Answer

A heat variation — such as sunlight touching a cooler door — will heat the wood and cause air trapped in the pores to expand. If the door is 50° as it sits at the curb and then is installed into a 72° doorway, that fluctuation could cause bubbles. It doesn't happen very frequently but it does happen occasionally. This is why we cover your door with white plastic to help prevent it. This has nothing to do with craftsmanship. If it should happen, we will come back and fix it. You end up with more finish on your door — yay!

Question 10

How long will the refinished door last?

Accepted Answer

With proper care, a refinished door can look great for several years. Houston's climate can be tough on wood, so we recommend inspecting your door annually and touching up as needed. Our 6-month guarantee covers any issues that arise after our work.

Question 11

What is your 6-month guarantee?

Accepted Answer

We stand behind our work. If a covered issue arises within six months of completing your project—such as a sticking door, loose hardware or a weather-stripping concern—contact us and give us the opportunity to make it right.

Repairs to pre-existing wood damage, including cracks and splits, are not covered by this guarantee. We will always use our experience and best efforts to repair the damage and help save your door from replacement, but damaged wood may continue to shift or separate over time.

Question 12

Should I polish my door after you're done to help it last longer?

Accepted Answer

No. Using products with wax, oils, or silicones could hinder future refinishing. When we strip the finish, silicones, oils, or waxes from polishes soak into the wood and cause what's known as fish eyes (dimples) in the finish. Please don't try to spruce up a dry or damaged finish with Old English, Pledge, Murphy's Soap, etc.

Question 13

What should I use to clean my door?

Accepted Answer

We recommend using a slightly water-dampened cloth. If you need something stronger, use Windex or a mild cleaner — but be quick with it and don't leave it on too long.

Question 14

Do you refinish both sides of the door?

Accepted Answer

Our standard pricing covers one side of the door. If you would like both sides refinished, please mention that when you contact us and we will provide a custom quote.

Question 15

Can you refinish anything else, such as furniture?

Accepted Answer

We could, but we stick to our core business — refinishing doors. Our philosophy is to pick one thing and be very good at it. Which we are!

Question 16

How long have you been refinishing?

Accepted Answer

Rick was raised in the back shop of a piano store, working on pianos at age 11. He's 70 now — you can do the math! He has had numerous refinishing shops over the years, refinishing everything from end tables to dining room sets, rebuilding antiques, jukeboxes, and slot machines. You name it.

Question 17

What is weather stripping and do I need it?

Accepted Answer

Weather stripping is the seal that runs around the perimeter of your door. If you can see light around your door frame or feel a draft, your weather stripping likely needs to be replaced. We inspect and replace weather stripping and thresholds to keep bugs out and reduce energy costs.

Question 18

Why is there an uneven gap at the top of my door?

Accepted Answer

Almost all exterior doors have an uneven gap at the top on the handle side. This is caused by the weight of the door stretching the hinges, or because the casing holding the hinges is coming loose. Replacing the hinges or placing a 4-inch screw into the top casing hinge can sometimes help. We are not carpenters — only refinishers trying to do the best we can.

Question 19

Can you remove my Baldwin locks before refinishing?

Accepted Answer

We really do not like removing Baldwin locks because of their complexity. We normally wait until we see the age of the locks before making a decision. We are not locksmiths.

Question 20

Do you refinish stained glass doors?

Accepted Answer

Yes — we can refinish any door. We mask off all glass so as not to damage it.

Question 21

Do you sell or install doors?

Accepted Answer

No. We are refinishers only.

Question 22

What forms of payment do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept Cash, Check, and Credit Cards through Square (with a 4% credit card fee).

Question 23

Are you bonded?

Accepted Answer

Yes.

Question 24

Are you insured for general liability?

Accepted Answer

Yes, for $2,000,000.

Question 25

How many trucks do you have in the field?

Accepted Answer

We have 4 work trucks as of 12/31/2026

Question 26

Do you have any contracts?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We are contracted with Heritage Grand in Cinco Ranch, Katy to refinish all 660 doors every 3 years. We also refinish all doors at The Enclave at Mill Point (Woodlands) and all doors and casing at The Waterway Village Townhomes (Woodlands).

Question 27

Why does the paint peel off my frame when removing the tape?

Accepted Answer

This is due to an inferior prep job before the painting — for example, not sanding properly or not removing all paint before repainting. We use Frog Tape on painted casings because it is just sticky enough to keep the plastic up on windy days while still not damaging a properly painted surface.

Question 28

Do you service areas outside of Houston?

Accepted Answer

We serve the Greater Houston area including Sugar Land, Katy, The Woodlands, Pearland, Friendswood, and surrounding communities. Contact us to confirm service availability in your area.

Question 29

How do I get a quote?

Accepted Answer

Simply fill out the contact form on our website or reach out through our Facebook page. We will get back to you promptly to schedule an estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions