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Restore the finish on old windows and doors

With the right tools and stain, even flaky, graying wood can be brought back to life.

by Eric Smith

From The Family Handyman

Wood windows with a natural finish on the inside look great when they're new, but moisture, temperature swings and harsh sunlight eventually make the varnish fade and flake away, especially along the bottom of the window sash and on the sill. It looks like an intimidating job, but usually the only part of the window that needs work is along the bottom - the rest of the sash and trim can just be lightly sanded and recoated.

The first step is to match the stain and finish. The easiest way to do this is to take a piece of the trim to a paint store to have it matched (Photo 1).

Scrape any worn varnish off (Photo 2), then sand with 120- or 150-grit sandpaper. In partially damaged areas, feather the sanding into the undamaged areas, then lightly sand the rest of the piece to prepare it for a new finish (Photo 3). You don't need to sand and recoat the entire window if only a few pieces need it - just stop at an edge or corner.

Stain the wood (Photo 4) and apply two coats of outdoor-grade finish. If the gloss doesn't match the older varnish, buff it lightly with extra-fine steel wool or pad to dull it.

Click Image to enlarge.
1. Carefully remove the wood cover of the casement operator (or other piece of trim) and use it to match the stain.

2. Use a sharp scraper to remove old finish. Pull the scraper smoothly and carefully to avoid gouging the wood.

3. Sand side pieces heavily in worn-out areas and lightly elsewhere. Stop at edges or corners next to undamaged wood.

4. Rub stain into the sanded sections of the window. Wipe off quickly, then apply more as needed to darken the color.

From The Family Handyman - March 2007