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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Painting, Decorating & Tiling Questions >> Fire doors finishing https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1533484033 Message started by luca on Aug 5^th, 2018, 4:47pm

Title: Fire doors finishing
Post by luca on Aug 5^th, 2018, 4:47pm

Hello, for my loft extension I had to replace the door and fit fire doors. My builder put 3 of these http://www.builderdepot.co.uk/deanta-internal-ely-oak-veneer-5-panel-prefinished-fd30-fire-door-1981-x-610-x-44mm.html . For the ground floor I had to add 2 doors and when he went to purchase 2 additional doors of the same type he couldn't find the finished version, and he got 2 doors of the same style but without the finishing.

The question is, how do I go about to make the unfinished version to look and feel the same as the finished one?

Thanks :)

Title: Re: Fire doors finishing
Post by Natedog on Aug 5^th, 2018, 8:46pm

Is it a sort of satin finish?

To match satin kitchen doors in the past I used dulux clear water based satin varnish (2 coats, light sand with very fine paper then a 3rd coat) followed by a rub over with a scotchbrite pad and a coat of clear briwax

Title: Re: Fire doors finishing
Post by Natedog on Aug 5^th, 2018, 8:46pm

Have the doors been trimmed to fit?

If they have this will give you an offcut to play with

Title: Re: Fire doors finishing
Post by woodsmith on Aug 6^th, 2018, 8:04am

It would be worth trying a couple of finishes on the hinge edge of the door if you don't have an offcut. Water based varnish will tend to keep the door lighter but it is very difficult to get a perfect finish and you need to keep the coats very thin or it will look like you have plastic coated it. The easiest finish to use is Osmo Polyx, you apply it very very thinly and then get a clean lint free cloth and try to remove as much of the finish as possible. This pushes it into the wood and can give a very "factory applied" finish but it does darken the wood more than a water based varnish.

The other consideration is matt or satin, matt has a very slight sheen and if you have any doubt use a matt first then, if it's too flat, you can always give it a coat or two of satin. It's more difficult to make a satin less shiny.

Title: Re: Fire doors finishing
Post by luca on Aug 7^th, 2018, 7:08am

Wow guys thanks. Sounds like a LOOOOT of work :)
Appreciated though.