From the original questioner.
Best exterior door finish.
They shed water for a year or so before requiring reapplication.
Previous varnish only finishes only lasted 2 3 years.
Go for a semi gloss finish which is as durable as it is attractive.
Their popularity and effectiveness for finishing the bright work on boats makes them the best choice for protecting exterior wooden doors that are exposed to harsh weather elements year round.
The best clear finish for an exterior door is 3 coats of clear epoxy followed with 2 3 coats of spar varnish.
Pettit marine paint s captain s varnish and epifanes wood finish matte.
However the initial application does take longer then exterior varnish.
In my opinion spar varnish will give you the best clear coat protection against water.
Exterior paints are sold in flat matte eggshell satin semi gloss and gloss sheens in order of the lowest to the highest.
The same goes for exterior trim.
Their popularity and effectiveness for finishing the bright work on boats makes them the best choice for protecting exterior wooden doors that are exposed to harsh weather elements year round.
My go to finish system for exterior doors is a combination of two products.
A storm door would also be a big help in protecting the door form the elements.
For a natural look penetrating oil finishes might be your best bet.
When it comes to painting your front door there are a million colors to choose from but only one real option for the finish.
Teak oil tung oil and tung oil finishes.
It s got to be semigloss.
High quality formulations have finely ground pigments that block uv rays while allowing the grain to show.
Water repellent preservatives wrps are a great choice on wood decks.
The best protection for an exterior door is opaque paint all clear finishes will need constant maintenance.
As soon as it begins to crack or peel it s only going to get worse.
An exterior oil finish is definitely the simplest quickest way to treat an outdoor project.
Prior to applying new finish scrub the surface with a cleaner containing an oxidizing agent such as bleach.
Pettit marine paint s captain s varnish and epifanes wood finish matte.
The combination has worked amazingly well for me on a west facing exterior oak door that looks as good today as it did after refinishing 7 8 years ago.
An epoxy sealer with an exterior varnish topcoat is the most durable outdoor finish and can last for many many years.
Whether it s a marine grade spar varnish or otherwise a film forming finish such as varnish only truly seals the wood when the film is intact.