What to Know Before You Refinish Your Front Door: Expert Advice for Beautiful, Lasting Results

Your front door does more than just welcome guests. It defines your home’s character and gives a lasting first impression. But even the most beautifully finished doors can lose their luster over time. Sunlight, humidity, and seasonal temperature swings all take their toll, dulling the rich tones and sheen that once made your entryway stand out.
Refinishing is one of the simplest ways to bring that warmth and depth back to wooden doors. The key, however, is doing it right. Many homeowners start with the best intentions — a weekend project and a can of stain — only to discover how much precision the process really demands. Before you reach for the brush, it’s worth knowing what goes into a professional-grade finish and why craftsmanship makes all the difference between a quick refresh and a result that lasts for years.
What Refinishing Really Involves
Staining and refinishing is as much about preservation and protection as it is about color. A proper refinish requires attention to detail from start to finish and begins long before the first coat is applied.
The wood’s condition, how well it’s prepped, and even the weather on the day of application all influence how evenly the stain absorbs and how long it holds up. The right product choices and technique can mean the difference between a door that fades in a year and one that looks beautiful for a decade.
At John Neill Painting, our craftsmen take the time to evaluate every door before starting. We look at factors like wood species, sun exposure, and existing finish to determine the best restoration approach that typically falls into one of three tiers:

Tier 3: a light clean and seal.
Tier 2: “overstaining” – which is what we call thoroughly cleaning the surface but not stripping before staining and sealing.
Tier 1: a near factory finish replica where we strip off the existing finish, sand, stain, and seal.

It’s this level of care and precision that ensures a rich, even finish that highlights the natural character of your home’s entry—not a temporary touch-up that fades by next season.
Need an expert opinion? Request an estimate. Our team will assess your door and recommend the best solution for lasting protection and beauty.

Common Questions Homeowners Ask About Front Door Refinishing
How much does it cost to refinish a front door?
The cost depends on the number of doors (one vs. two), their condition, the type of wood, and whether the old finish needs to be fully stripped. For most Main Line homes, the investment in professional refinishing can have a wide range that depends on each door’s unique qualities and the tiers above. That investment pays off in longevity, as a properly stained door can last years longer than a rushed or DIY application.
Can you stain over a stained door?
Sometimes. If the existing finish is compatible and still in good condition, it may just need a light sanding to prepare the surface. More often, though, the old finish has to be removed entirely to ensure the new stain bonds properly and doesn’t peel or blotch over time.
Do you have to sand a door before staining?
Yes. Light sanding is essential. It opens the wood grain and removes surface residue, allowing the stain to penetrate evenly and reveal the wood’s natural depth.
These details may seem small, but they’re exactly where craftsmanship matters most. One shortcut — skipping the sanding, choosing the wrong stain, or rushing drying times — can mean refinishing again in half the time.
Paint vs. Stain: Which Is Better for an Exterior Door
When it comes to updating your front door, one of the biggest decisions is whether to paint or stain it. Both can transform your entryway, but they create very different looks and require different types of care.
Stain enhances the natural beauty of the wood grain, giving your door warmth and character. It’s ideal for solid wood doors and classic architecture where you want the craftsmanship to shine through. A properly stained door feels timeless and organic, with depth that paint can’t quite replicate. However, stain does require maintenance over time, especially on doors that face direct sunlight or heavy weather exposure.
Paint, on the other hand, provides a solid layer of protection and allows for nearly endless color possibilities. It can give a more modern or dramatic effect and may better suit doors made of engineered or composite materials. But while paint offers great coverage, it conceals the natural texture of the wood beneath. Touch-ups can be more noticeable if the surface chips or peels.
At John Neill Painting, we often help homeowners choose based on the home’s architecture, the door’s material, and its sun exposure. Some doors call for the elegance of stain, while others benefit from the durability of a painted finish. What matters most is that the process, from prep to product selection, is handled with care and precision to ensure a result that looks beautiful and lasts.
Maintaining the Finish
Once your door has been beautifully refinished, maintenance becomes the key to keeping it that way. A well-stained front door can last many years with the right care, but it isn’t a “set it and forget it” project — especially in a climate with four true seasons.
Regular cleaning is the simplest and most effective way to preserve your finish. Gently wipe away dirt, pollen, or residue with mild soap and water (no harsh chemicals or abrasive pads!). If your door faces direct sunlight or weather exposure, consider applying a clear protective topcoat every couple of years to maintain color depth and UV resistance.
We often hear the question, “Are stained front doors out of style?” Absolutely not. Natural wood tones are timeless. When cared for properly, they offer an understated elegance that complements both traditional and modern homes. A freshly stained wood door often becomes the standout feature of a home’s exterior.
For clients who want to keep their entry looking its best year after year, John Neill Painting offers routine maintenance and touch-up services. Whether your finish needs a light refresh or full reconditioning, our team knows exactly how to restore the depth and sheen that make a front door feel new again.

When Do You Call in The Experts?
There’s no shortage of online tutorials promising an easy weekend DIY solution on the internet, but your front door deserves more than an experiment in trial and error. Professional refinishing not only enhances the door’s appearance but also protects it from weather, moisture, and time. On the surface it might look like a straightforward project, but achieving a smooth, even, and long-lasting finish takes more than just patience.
If your door’s finish is faded, peeling, or uneven, or if the wood itself has begun to crack or dry out, it’s worth bringing in a professional. Refinishing is as much an art as a science, and our craftsmen know how to balance both.
Take the question of spraying versus brushing, for instance. Each method has its place. Spraying delivers fast, consistent coverage, but brushing allows the stain to be worked directly into the grain for depth and durability. At John Neill Painting, our craftsmen combine techniques to create a finish that’s both beautiful and built to last — even under Pennsylvania’s unpredictable weather conditions.
Preparation is another area where professionals make a difference. Every step matters: stripping or sanding away old finishes, sealing edges and joints, priming where needed, and protecting hardware and glass. Skipping even one of these steps can lead to blotchy color, uneven sheen, or premature wear.
Our crews follow a process refined over five decades of experience. That means:

Using premium, low-VOC products designed for longevity and environmental safety
Keeping job sites clean, quiet, and being respectful of your home
Ensuring every detail, from brushstroke to hardware reinstall, meets our quality standards

The result? A front door that doesn’t just look freshly refinished, it feels brand new.
When you partner with John Neill Painting, you’re getting more than a new coat of stain. You’re getting decades of experience, premium materials, and a team that treats your home like their own. From the first consultation to the final walkthrough, we take care of every detail so you don’t have to.
A Front Door Worth Coming Home To
Your front door is the first thing you see when you return home and the first thing guests notice when they arrive. It should reflect the pride you take in your home — rich in color, smooth to the touch, and built to withstand the elements.
Refinishing your front door is an investment in both beauty and longevity. With the right care, it can remain the centerpiece of your home’s exterior for years to come.
If your door is ready for a refresh, trust the experts who have been delivering craftsmanship, care, and precision to Main Line homes for over 50 years.
Request an Estimate or call us at (610) 664-5555 today to restore your home’s first impression.
Want to make sure you’re keeping up with your exterior maintenance beyond just your front door?
Download our complimentary checklist.

Extending The Life Of Your Exterior Paint Job With Regular Pressure Cleaning

Although the groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter, the countdown to spring is underway, and with it time for Spring Cleaning. You might be surprised by problems affecting the longevity of paint performance – most of which can be minimized with a thorough Pressure Cleaning.
Over the course of the seasons, acid rain residue, salt deposits, oily pollution, dust, soot, mildew, and algae all build up on the surfaces of your home. You would never think that these simple items can cause premature paint breakdown, but they do. The solution to prolonging the durability of an exterior paint job is to have your home Pressure Cleaned every 2-3 years.
Weathered wood and peeling paint also become an issue as your house is continually exposed to the elements, and a thorough Pressure Cleaning should be completed prior to exterior painting to ensure proper adhesion of new paint.
Pressure Cleaning is the most cost-effective way to maintain your home and can save you both the time and expense of having to repaint 2 – 3 times as often. It will also leave your house looking “its best” for the start of the outdoor season as we look forward to gathering together in our outdoor spaces.
Areas that benefit from Pressure Cleaning include:

House (stone, stucco, brick and siding)
Walkways
Patios
Decks
Pool Surrounds
Retaining Walls

It’s time to add Pressure Cleaning to your Exterior Maintenance To Do List now for the start of the exterior season.

3 Important Things to Consider If You’re Planning A Project In The Near Future

If we’ve learned anything over the past 18 months, it’s that what we thought would be a temporary change in the way we work and live has now become a more permanent way of life for many of us. And while it’s easy to focus on the negatives, there are also a few positives that have resulted from the shift to what we all now refer to as “the new normal.”
A recent study found that adults are spending 53% more time at home. This means many of our daily routines and habits have changed. Here are the top 3 trends we’ve seen as a result, and what it means for homeowners looking to make updates to their homes.

Our Allocation of “Space” Has Changed

Many of us are working remotely, trying new hobbies, spending time with loved ones and pursuing interests individually and as families. As a result, we are re-thinking how we use all of the space in our homes and what we’ll need moving forward. Many are
re-allocating space for dedicated home offices, carving out space for a new hobby, and creating places where we can find enjoyment both alone and together.

Our Need For “Color” Has Shifted

We are beginning to remember why we love and need color in our homes. We’re adding it to our walls, through fun accent pieces and even with new furniture purchases. As someone recently said: “I realized on my Zoom calls, everyone’s walls were either gray or white and I became instantly bored with the sameness of it all.”

Our Interior “To Do” List Has Gotten Longer

While working remotely has given us back our most precious resource – time – we have become more observant in noticing all of the things we’ve put off fixing or updating. The added time at home has now motivated many of us to complete these updates and enhance the beauty around us within our own homes.
These realizations have also lead to a substantial increase in the demand for home decorating and remodeling services. Which means there is an increased need to plan ahead.
If you find yourself ready to refresh or update the colors in your home or it’s been a while since you had any exterior maintenance work done, now is the time to start the process. While we may be in the midst of winter, NOW is the best time to start planning for spring and summer projects.

The Importance of Maintaining the Exterior of Your Home

Most people don’t realize that water damage poses the greatest threat to both the interior and exterior of your home.
As we move into the heart of the Summer season, it’s time to make sure your house is sound and protected in preparation for the colder months to come. Here are some tips on where to start and what to look for.
1 – Start at the Top: It’s always a good idea to have your roof, any flashing, tops of chimneys and gutters and downspouts inspected every few years to avoid costly repairs in the future.
    
2 – Out of Sight often translates to Out of Mind:  If you have 2nd or 3rd story dormers, make sure to have the sides inspected for wood rot and/or peeling paint and take care of any needed repairs before things deteriorate any further.
You’ll also want to inspect all horizontal surfaces (as they wear more quickly than other areas on your home) paying particular attention to window sills and bases of doors and columns.
     
3 – Keep it Clean: Just like washing your car regularly helps maintain the durability of the finish, Pressure Cleaning your house every 2-3 years also helps extend the life of the paint job. Stone, stucco, brick, and siding can all be pressure cleaned as well as shutters, patios, pool surrounds, decks, and walkways.

Front Porch Stair Replacement in Chestnut Hill, Pa.

After over forty years in business, many people are still unaware of the additional services offered by John Neill Painting & Decorating. A prime example of this is a front porch stair replacement we recently completed. This project included the removal of the existing stairs (which were beyond repair), pouring a new concrete footer at the base of the new stairs, installing new stringers, treads, and risers plus a new railing, and finally, painting the new stairs and front porch.
If you have a project at your home that involves multiple trades (ie – carpentry, masonry, painting, etc), give us a call and let our team of craftsmen handle it all from start to finish (and with much less work on your end in dealing with multiple companies). ?
 









“Your carpenter did a wonderful job rebuilding the front porch. He was very detail oriented and took great pride in his work.”
– Carol Strasbaugh, Chestnut Hill, Pa.
 

Water Damage and Drywall Repair

Water damage – these are two words that homeowners never like to hear. Unfortunately water poses the greatest single threat to both the interior and exterior of your home. The most common interior issue we encounter is drywall damage to ceilings (and sometimes walls) due to a bathroom leak.
Thankfully, our team of craftsmen can repair drywall on both ceilings and walls to blend seamlessly with the surrounding area. If you have water damage in your home, the first step is to call a plumber and make sure that the source of the leak is properly addressed (we can recommend one if needed). Once the issue has been resolved, give us a call and we’ll be happy to take care of the repairs and painting so you can get back to more important things, like the peak  Cherry Blossom viewing, March Madness, and the start of the golf season.

 
 

Preparing Your House For Winter

While leaf peeping, Octoberfest and trick-or-treating may be on your fall to do list, there’s another important “to do” that you won’t want to overlook. Preparing your house for winter should be a part of your annual maintenance and can really help you avoid more costly repairs later. Inspecting the exterior of your home early in the season ensures time to handle any issues that you may find well before winter sets in. A few areas to pay close attention to include your: roof, chimney, gutters and downspouts. Download our Winter Preparation Checklist for more details on how to “winterize” your home.

 

Exterior Painting in Philadelphia Before Planting

Do your exterior painting in Philadelphia BEFORE you do your landscaping this spring with John Neill Painting & Decorating! Now that spring weather is finally here (sort of), do you have landscaping on your to do list? If so, it would be a good idea to get your pressure cleaning, exterior carpentry, or exterior painting taken care of first. While we do take great care to protect your plants, getting your maintenance work done before they go in saves us all time and potential worry over newly planted flowers and shrubs. Here’s to a beautiful spring and the prettiest yard on the block.

 

Spring is Just Around the Corner

Since Spring is just around the corner (hopefully), now would be a good time to take a walk around your home and see if you are in need of any exterior maintenance. This could include pressure cleaning, carpentry repairs, painting, or stucco and masonry repairs. Visit our Exterior Painting page to download your free Exterior Maintenance Checklist, and then give us a call to save your space on our spring schedule.

Five Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Painting Contractor

Hiring a contractor can often be a stressful and unsettling endeavor. With nearly 40 years in business, we’ve taken the guesswork out of the equation and provided you with the key questions to ask before making your final decision. Finding a company you are truly comfortable with can make all the difference in a stressful vs. a successful experience. Here are 5 questions to ask BEFORE hiring a painting contractor that can help you save money and make sure the job is done right!
What products will they use?
Not all paint is created equal, and generally speaking, you get what you pay for. Be sure to ask about the products that will be used for your job. These play a key role in both the aesthetic appeal and the durability of the completed project, and if you want the best results possible you may need to be willing to spend a little more on the products.
What preparation will be done?
 The key to a durable and long lasting paint job lies in the preparation before the finish coat is applied. Be sure to ask about all of the preparation that will be completed prior to applying the final coat of paint.

Who will be performing the work?
 There are painters, and then there are craftsman. Be sure to ask about the people who will be sent to your home to complete the work; how long they have been with the company, their skill level and product knowledge, and how available they will be to answer any questions that may arise along the way. Remember, they will most likely be in or around your house for at least a week, so you will want to choose a company you feel comfortable working with.
What is their reputation like?
Check to see how long they have been in business and what type of reputation they have established. A well-established painting contractor should be willing and able to provide you with references and testimonials upon request, and you should not be shy about asking for them.
And the last of the five questions to ask before hiring a painting contractor is…
What type of warranties do they offer?
Many customers do not realize that they are warranties on home services such as painting. Any reputable painting contractor should offer one, and be sure to ask about the details and read the fine print. If the initial price of the work to be completed seems high, look at the warranty offer and evaluate the overall long-term cost of when you will have to repaint again. You may actually find that spending the extra money up front will be in your favor over the long run.
See our Painting Services page to see how John Neill Painting & Decorating can help you in Philadelphia and the Main Line!