Interior Door Finish/Varnish, Painting and Small Gaps to Fill around Exterior Doors and Windows

ABFG

Hi all. Recently bought a place and trying to economise a bit on some jobs. I have some questions for those with a bit more expertise:

1. I have a few doors like in the image (ignore the blotches due to my damaged lens!), which have faded colours and a bit worn/tired looking. I would like to restore them to their best without losing their colouring effect (not sure what it's called the different colours in wood effect). My plan is to sand the doors then use a clear varnish like Ronseal Clear Diamond Hard, couple of coats. Is this the right approach?


2. I will be doing kitchen/bathroom in specified emulsion for those areas to help keep it stain free as well as possible. In the bathroom there is some painted wood boxing floor to ceiling in one corner (plywood), which has some staining from condensation over time (recently upgraded extraction since buying). My plan again is to sand, then paint with decent wood paint. But is there a 'stain block' coat I can put under the paint, I don't know the proper name, to help keep it fresh looking as long as possible?

3. I need to paint over painted skirting boards and a couple of painted wood doors. How sanded does the old paint need to be for a good finish? And is oil or water based better for the job? I know oil based is a pig to clean brushes and spills, but is it a better finish?

4. I have a gap like below outside, and a few more places the same or similar around uPVC window sills as well. I was thinking I could get a cartridge gun and 'squirt' in some mortar/cement, any advice on the good stuff to use to do this and technique? Obviously my concern is moisture ingress. Previously there was a block of the mortar, same as used between the bricks. I'm aware the wood has seen better days, I'm making do for now, needs must!

 

stuart45

It was probably a piece of cut block by the door. Cut the mortar joints off and bed a new one in. Best to do the work on the cill first.

Pammieh

Hi there someone more knowledgeable may come on and discuss how to improve the doors but they look like mine... 1970s sapele 
If you put your hand under the door (the surround of mine must have come off years ago) you'll find two pieces of wood - like veneer - and then a cardboard honeycomb arrangement inside. I think you'd need to be careful sanding it down too much!

MysteryMe

Zinsser do a stain block

Those doors look like what I had when I moved into my 1970s house some time back. I immediately painted them white as I hated them but maybe they are back in fashion or maybe you like the look of them which is all that matters!