varnish question

[mopinko]

so, they are installing my beautiful new door today. it is really great! so sunny. the old one had half length sidelights, and only tiny windows in the door. this one is about 2/3 glass.
my question is- it is unfinished. i know i need to get a coat of varnish on this puppy pretty quickly. any tips on cold weather varnishing? it is 12 degrees right now, and expected to make it all the way to 16. snowing today, expected to snow tomorrow.
assuming i am using a polyurathane, but you could convince me otherwise if you tried.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

1. Most likely, you want to use a "Spar" urethane for outdoor use. AKA marine urethane.

Urethane will provide superior water resistance over varnish. The spar urethane will provide an extra level of protection including U.V. protection.

I would check any can directions for cold weather/temperature applications. You might have to tent the area if possible and leave the door open to keep some heat on the door.

Better yet, head on over to Tybony (sp?) on Clark St. in Andersonville and consult with them. (I've seen you mention you live in R.P.)

Tybony just steered me right on a finish (stain/shellac/real varnish) for a kitchen table I just built. It turned out great - better than any finish I've ever done so they are high on my recommend list.

[mopinko]

2. as a matter of fact, i went to thybony and

they recommended just what you did. marine spar.
i love those guys. walk in there, tell them you want the best, bend over a little, and you will get the best there is. no sense walking through that door is you aren't ready to pay for the best, but i will always take sticker shock the first time over doing it again. ($70/gal)

it is supposed to be a little warmer today, but i can easily tent this in. got some plastic sheeting while i was there.

i ended up less than thrilled with the installation, even though the carpenters were great. they sent the thing out with holes from those little crinkle staples that were unfilled where the 4 parts were joined together. on the outside, they sent some little plain, square "trim" pieces to put over it. they look like something they had leftover from something. the inside was neither covered or filled. this is the place where, back in the day at least, you would put some nice little decorative cover. i would have saved the pieces they took off, but they were too wide.
i am gonna see what i can find to cover both sides. just something like a little piece of chair rail or something.
all that money, and big staple holes showing every where.
then the clown had the nerve to come back to me for an extra for having them put a mail slot in it. i told him i would give him his extra, but i wouldn't give him any more work. i have a dozen more windows to do. and i never even said a word to him about the fact that we started this in august, and are finishing in january.

[Warpy]

3. There should be directions on the can for temperature

and humidity. I'd be tempted to give it a miss until the weather warmed up enough to have the door stand open while it dries.

[mopinko]

4. i just don't want it exposed to chicago elements until it gets warm.

i think i can warm things up enough to get a coat on it, then give it another once it gets a little warmer.
i'll see what the can says. i should have asked. thybony has the best staff as well as the best products.

[Warpy]

5. If it were me, I'd put the plastic sheeting on the outside of the house

to completely block off the door opening, allow the door to warm, possibly with the addition of an electric radiant heater, and then varnish it. I'd keep the heater on to help dry it.

I wouldn't try to varnish in 12 degree weather unless I wanted the door welded shut forever.

[mopinko]

6. the can says 40 degrees

it is supposed to warm up a little on saturday, so i think i will wait until then. i am planning to do just as you say. the door is set back into the opening by a little less than a foot, so i can sheet that over, and put a little radiator in the foyer.
so, i am off to the lumber yard. if i wait till saturday, i can get the trim put up first.