Varnish vs laminate vs paint for doors

When a timber door looks tired, there are three common ways to refresh it.

Varnish

Keeps the natural timber grain visible. It can be stained lighter or darker and finished in gloss or satin. It's the best choice for solid timber and good veneer doors, and it can be sanded and redone again in future. Send us photos for a quote.

Laminate wrap

A printed sheet bonded over the door. It comes in many colours and wood-look prints and is easy to clean. It hides the real timber, and damaged laminate is hard to spot-repair.

Paint

Solid colour that hides the grain completely. It's good for flush doors with poor veneer. It shows chips more easily, and going back to a natural wood finish later means full stripping.

Our view

If the door is real timber and the grain is in good condition, re-varnishing gives the richest result and keeps your options open. See door varnishing.