08/26/2026
We recently refinished this mahogany front entry in Seattle. The previous clear coat was less than ten years old—from six feet away it looked decent, but up close, the lower third of the enclosure had worn completely down to bare wood.
The biggest challenge with clear coats vs. opaque paint is that every flaw in prep shows through permanently.
A few takeaways from the job:
• It’s an enclosure, not just a door: Sidelights, transoms, casing, mullions, and sills all need identical depth and clarity, or the eye spots the imbalance instantly.
• Prep sequence: Deep cleaning for spider frass and environmental grime before touching it with sanders (otherwise you just bake the contamination right back into the grain).
• Coating choice: Built back up with Fine Paints of Europe Marine Yacht Varnish for UV resistance and clarity.
Happy to answer any technical questions on prep, sanding grits, or application method for anyone working with FPE varnish!
