Use and Care Manual
Doors can be stained either hanging in the opening or removed from the frame
(recommended). Should you remove the door, take care to protect it from damage. 
Sidelites will need to be finished vertically. To remove the door from the frame, use a pin 
punch and hammer. Strike the hinge pin from the bottom until it pops up (for outswing 
units – hinge leaf must be removed from the door). Drive the hinge pin as far as possible 
with the punch. Using a pair of pliers, grasp the hinge pin and, while twisting, pull the pin 
out. Remove all door hardware. 
Store flat on a level surface in a clean, dry, and well ventilated building. Protect from 
dirt, water and abuse. Allow air circulation. Handle the door wearing proper personal 
protective equipment (PPE) to avoid any fingerprints / oil marks / etc. and do not  
drag doors across one another or across surfaces to avoid scratches hard to repair.
IMPORTANT: Dust, debris and other surface contaminants
 can accumulate on the surface of 
the door. Therefore, 
to achieve best results and maximum coating adhesion,
 wipe/clean all 
surfaces of the door panel(s) and sidelite(s) thoroughly with mineral spirits or acetone. 
Make sure enough time is provided for the solvent to evaporate before proceeding to 
the next step. 
Mask (tape) off all surfaces that will not be stained. Make sure to clean the edges, 
recesses and corners as much as possible. This will help to remove the residual 
contaminants which directly helps to get a better finish with no defects in the future.
FINISHING ORDER:
1  Panels and sticking
  (moulding profiles)
2 Vertical center areas
 (mullions)
3 Horizontal areas (rails)
4 Outside vertical areas   
 (stiles)
5 Edge of door or stiles
IMPORTANT 
Please read all instructions thoroughly before beginning. This is a guideline for painting and 
finishing exterior and interior doors. Masonite cannot evaluate all available paints, stains, or 
application requirements. Consult a paint professional or a local paint department/store for 
coatings best suited to the project. Select top quality finishes and follow all manufacturers’ 
instructions. Failure to finish the door slab as instructed may result in the denial of warranty 
claims for operational or performance problems.
HOW TO 
START
PREPARING THE 
DOOR SURFACE
STAINING
THE DOOR
Before starting, and occasionally throughout the project, 
stir the stain until the texture is creamy. We recommend 
that before starting, you try staining a small, inconspicuous 
area of the door to achieve the desired color.  
(Follow Manufacturers’ Instructions) 
One coat of stain is required with the recommended  
(per manufacturer’s instructions) dry time needed between 
sides. The stain should be applied in the following order 
working on one small section of the door at a time.
1-800-663-DOOR masonite.com
How to Stain
FIBERGLASS ENTRY SYSTEMS
OPTIMAL CONDITIONS
Find a well-lit staining location that is 
dust-free, well ventilated and within 
the climate conditions recommended 
by the stain/top-coat manufacturer. 
High humidity or a dry environment 
can drastically affect the drying of 
stain and top-coat which may alter 
the time for drying and application 
between/after the coats (follow 
manufacturers recommendation).
MATERIALS NEEDED
COATINGS & ACCESSORIES:
u
Mineral spirits or acetone
u
Lint-free rags or cheese cloth 
(recommended)
u
2” wide foam brush
u
Paper Towels
u
220 grit sandpaper  
and sanding block
u
Scotch-bright for  
scuff sanding
u
Safety razor blades
u
One pair of rubber gloves
u
Stir sticks
u
Masking tape
u
Stain
–   High-quality, opaque (non-
transparent), heavily pigmented, 
oil-based stain (recommended)
–  Gel stains can also be used
–  Semi-transparent stains are not 
recommended
u
High-quality, exterior grade, uv 
stabilized polyurethane sealant 
(satin or low gloss)
u
2-1/2” wide china bristle brush
TOOLS
u
Hammer
u
Pin punch
u
Safety glasses
u
Phillips screwdriver
u
Pliers
1
2
3
BARRINGTON
®
ULTIMATE STYLE & DURABILITY
BELLEVILLE
®
DISTINCT ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS
OAKCRAFT
®
WOOD GRAIN TEXTURED
MIC-18124 / ©2018 Masonite International Corporation. 
MIC-18124-PaintStain-Instructions.indd 1 7/5/18 12:07 PM




