need advice before top coat

[Tullie Templet]

I stained my front door with General Finishes semi-gel water based stain. I am going to finish it with a spar urathane. My question is should I put a coat of shellac or something else between the two or can I apply it directly. I'm new to the finishing thing and I am trying to learn. Thanks!!!

[Steve Wylie]

I am going to finish it with a spar urathane.

I wouldn't use a urethane-based varnish on anything exterior, even a "spar" urethane. Urethanes are very susceptible to UV damage, and even a "spar" formulation (with UV absorbers) can only help so much. You're going to get cracking and peeling sooner than you'd like, especially if there's direct sun exposure.

You'd be better off using a standard (non-urethane) varnish, or even better, a real spar varnish.

But to answer the question you actually asked, any of these finishes should work just fine over the stain.

[Tullie Templet]

Thanks Steve you actually answered two of my questions. I was wondering if I should use the spar urathane or the spar varnish but you cleared it up for me.