On the front door I would sand and degloss it. Use old masters grainning base, and gel stain, sand seal it and two coat it with oil sikkens or some kind of marine varnish. Don't use that crap SW sells I think it's minwax varnish or poly. If your worried about adhession for the grainning base strip the surface with KS-3 Stripper sold at Home Depot.
With a higher quality varnish I find it best to thin the product down a bit so it penetrates and has a lesser of a chance to peel.
As far as the aluminum door im not to sure if a grainning base would hold up, I would have to pass on that project.
With a higher quality varnish I find it best to thin the product down a bit so it penetrates and has a lesser of a chance to peel.
As far as the aluminum door im not to sure if a grainning base would hold up, I would have to pass on that project.