How to revive a composite front door

One of the most popular reasons customers use Polytrol colour restoring oil, is to revive their composite front door.

We have heard some people being quoted hundreds of pounds for a new door, only to give Polytrol a go and be completely impressed and shocked by the results – not to mention relieved that they saved tones of cash!

So, how do you revive a composite front door with Polytrol? Follow our 3 step guide below and your door could be looking as good as new in less than half an hour!

Step 1. Prepare the surface

As we always, say, “fail to prepare, then prepare to fail.” Before applying Polytrol you must remove any dirt, grease, grime or mildew from it.

Simple dirt can be removed with warm, soapy water then rinsing thoroughly. If there is any mildew or mould, this can easily be treated with a 50:50 bleach and water solution. Just scrub the mixture on to the door, leave it to work for 10-15 minutes and then rinse it off.

If there is any wax or polish on the door, you will also need to remove this first. This is because Polytrol works by penetrating deep into the surface to restore the dried out pigments. If there is any wax, polish etc on the surface, this will create a barrier and the Polytrol will not be able to get through to the pigments. This will result in nothing happening at best and being patchy at worst.

After cleaning, leave the door to dry for 24 hours. This make take longer depending on the weather and humidity levels, so please make sure that your door is completely dry before moving on to the next step.

Step 2. Apply the Polytrol

Once your door is dry, liberally apply Polytrol with a brush or lint-free cloth (or spray onto the door if you are using our spray can version) and then leave it to work for 10-20 minutes at most.

Before it starts to become tacky, wipe off any excess with a clean, lint-free cloth. If you would like to achieve a shiny finish, buff the surface with a lint-free polishing cloth.

In some cases, the surface may be so dry that it requires more Polytrol. If this is the case, you can repeat the procedure, again leaving the Polytrol to work for a maximum time of 20 mins. Remember to remove the excess after this time too.

Then, simply leave to dry.

Note: If you are applying Polytrol to a surface that will take you longer than 20 mins to complete, you will need to work in areas that can be completed within this time-frame.

Step 3. Clean up

After finishing, clean the brush with white spirits.

Gallery

Important info

• Make sure the treated surface is clean and dry before you begin.
• Do not use Polytrol on white surfaces, it will not work as Polytrol is designed to restore pigments which white lacks.
• Do not leave Polytrol on the treated surface for any longer than 20 mins.
• Do not apply in direct sunlight or on to hot surfaces.
• Do not allow the excess to dry and create a film – always remove the excess Polytrol whilst it is still wet.

Further Reading

Polytrol is also great for a wide range of other uses, including brightening faded car bumpers and even reviving the gelcoat on your boat! For further information on Polytrol, as well as other projects it has been used on, take a look at some other Polytrol related blog posts below:

• Polytrol FAQ’s
• Polytrol Used To Revive a 1996 Ifor Williams Horsebox
• Narrowboat revived with Polytrol
• Faded car bumper restored with Polytrol

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We hope you found this post on how to revive a composite front door helpful. If you have any other advice or top tips, please feel free to leave them in the comments below. We love hearing from you!

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