Expert: Eileen Cronk - 10/14/2007

Question
I would like to replace the interior doors in my house with oak 6 panel doors.  Our woodwork was a stain called "javawood" by the builder but I don't know the manufacturer.  Our house is about 11 years old.  What is the best way to match stains so that the new doors look good with the existing woodwork?  My wife would like them to match quite closely.  So far I have started with one door and if it works out then I will put in eleven more.

Answer
Hi David
Nice to hear from you.
My experience with matching stains is just trial and error, and its usually a lot of error till its correct.
You will need to purchase several small cans of stain in shades from dark to lighter.
I have 6 shades I take when I do this type of thing.
All are Minwax colors.
They are golden oak, special walnut, mahogany, colonial maple, dark walnut and natural (sometimes dark mahogany.)
I find I can mix most any shade to match from those colors.
I just use some plastic cups for the sampling and plastic spoons to measure.
I usually start with 3 parts (3 tsp) of golden oak if its a darker color I want, or 3 tsp of natural if its a lighter color I want.
Then I will start adding the various shades a tsp at a time. (mark what you put in the cups so you do not forget)You must do a small sample of your shade as you go.
The door bottom is a good place (where it will not be seen)
If you get too dark, reject that sample and start again.
If your sample is too light of course you can add more dark shades.
So you see David it just trial and error.
Once you get the desired color, then mix a batch for your doors by converting the teaspoons to cups and you will have the correct color.
Hopefully your trim is oak because it will be fairly easy to match the oak doors to it.
And you may need to get a few different colors than I use as I am not familiar with this "javawood" color.
And certainly ask around the various paint and hardware stores about this color. The builder must have purchased it in the area and you don't need the manufacturers name necessarily.
And please always do the test areas (very important)
Good Luck and great question
Regards
Eileen
PS..always stir the stains as well as you would paint