Therma Tru Cherry Same-Day Stain Finishing Kit - Wood Door Stain & Finish - DIY Home Improvement for Front Doors, Entryways & Cabinets

Got this refinishing kit to refinish my Therma Tru doors. (Not sanded down. Just stained and applied top coat over what remained of the original coating on the exterior side of the door. Kit comes with everything needed: cheap gloves (ripped almost immediately), staining rag and other rags, foam brush (broke just as I finished with it), synthetic brush and natural bristle brush. This dark cherry stain is relatively thick (viscose) and opaque. That is good, in my opinion. The top coat is a bit thin and drippy. A little messy if you need to apply it overhead, as I did on the frame above the doors. Overall, this was a pretty tedious project, but the end result looks good. I hope I don't have to do it again for a long time. The price of this kit is kind of high, but nothing compared with the cost of the doors. Might as well get this kit, which the manufacturer recommends.I used this to stain a Therma-Tru door with two sidelites. The results were great, but this is A LOT OF WORK. I logged about 36 hours total for prep (*lots* of careful taping around windows), staining, and applying the top coats. (More time was required for preparing and painting trim, unrelated to this kit)(Naming this a 'Same-Day Staining Kit' took some marketing creativitiy!)The kit was well-equipped with plenty of stain and topcoat for both sides of a door and 2 sidelites. I found it necessary to supplement the kit with more staining rags (just used old clothes), stain wiping rags (need to be smooth), and a very small brush (e.g. calligraphy brush) for getting to small corners. The online video is a good review of the steps, though it took some doing to get the why and how of the 'blending' step (clarification: the stain is not yet fully dry, and blending with the brush right after wiping helps reduce the darker spots, clean out excess stain in corners, etc.)Our front door was so pretty when we moved in 18 years ago, but the sun had really killed the finish. We had a light cherry stain and tried to match it multiple times with any success and the stains we used would crack off the following year. We even paid a professional and his job only lasted 2 years. I pulled up my big boy pants and researched to find this product. I read the instructions, followed every step. we are in year THREE and the door looks better than new. Rich darker Cherry but very pretty and lasting. I will touch up this year with the clear just as instructed. Nothing is wrong we just want to maintain the finish as long as we can. Easy to use and looks great.I loved the stain that we have used for years. Our original kit was purchased at a local hardware store that has since closed. Unable to find a local carrier, I went to Amazon and found the same exact stain. I only needed the stain (a tiny small can) but had to buy the total kit that included brushes, etc that I already had for over $100 dollars. Pretty expensive stain - However, I'm happy to have the project finish and it look great!This is the product sold by the company that makes the doors. My experience was that it's best to use this product instead of buying the stains and clear-coats from other companies. And, best applied by specialists familiar with this type of application or experienced painters. The directions in the kit are very specific as to application, drying time, temperature and humidity.And, the stains give a more beautiful appearance than simply painting the doors.Have had 3 Thema-Tru entry doors for 19 years. Architecturally stunning, maintenance nightmares. The company laminated wood embossed fiberglass over pine for brickmould, astragals, and doorframes. The fiberglass delaminates over years requiring filling missing areas with filler and restaining and topcoat. The latest topcoat is different. Its muddy, satin finish which softer than the previous topcoats which were harder, transparent, and clear. Comparing the topcoats in the can the newer one is more yellow and opaque. The kit is overpriced. Order the stain from them and then buy gloves, topcoat, rags etc. from other vendors.My front door is beautiful.Very disappointed in color. It was much darker than our door was originally. I would not purchase this color again.