Deciding On A Door

Deciding On A Door

How to Take Care of Your Exterior Wood Doors So They Last a Long Time

Peetu Couri

Exterior wood doors can add a lot of charm and versatility to your home. However, they require a lot of care or they may quickly become raggedy and worn. Here are several helpful tips for keeping your exterior wood doors looking their best and lasting a long time.

Use a Storm Door Whenever Possible

Storm doors are the first line of defence for any wood door. They help keep the rain, snow, ice and other natural precipitations from beating on your wood door. If you currently do not have a storm door and your door frame can accommodate the installation of a storm door, be sure to install one sooner rather than later.

Sand and Repaint or Restain Your Wood Door

If your wood door is looking quite rough at the moment, you may need to take it off its hinges and clean it up a bit. Lay the door flat on a work table or across two sawhorses. Then use a sander to remove the chipping or peeling paint or stain. Wipe it down with a cheesecloth to lift up the flecks of sawdust and paint or stain. Once the surface on your door is smooth again, repaint or restain the door, preferably with a stain or paint that has a water-repelling sealant mixed into it. Then reinstall your door on its hinges.

Coat the Wood Door with a Water-Repelling Sealant

There are lots of water-repelling sealants on the market. Some of them are clear while others are mixed with stain or paint. You can use the clear sealant if your wooden door is in good shape, and use the stain or paint varieties if your door needs a little facelift or change in color. If you use a sealant with paint or stain mixed in, be sure to follow up a couple times a year with the clear sealant to protect the new layer of stain or paint. The sealant in these varieties will wear out and the paint or stain left behind will be exposed to the weather.

Provide Shade for Your Door with an Awning or Pediment over the Porch

While a storm door can protect your wood door from most kinds of wet weather, it cannot protect your wood door from the effects of direct sunlight. To do that, you may want to consider installing an aluminum awning above the door, or constructing a gabled pediment on posts over the door and the porch to keep the door in shade. This will protect it from most of the sun's direct rays, which can bleach its color and dry out the wood.

If you're looking to replace your wood front door entirely, consider contacting a local supplier, such as Builders Door & Window, for more information.


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Deciding On A Door

If you were going to rank your front door on a scale from one to ten, how would it do? Although it might not seem like an important part of your house, your front door can say a lot about your attention to detail, your love for your house, and your personal level of home security. Fortunately, you might be able to make your front door look a lot better by taking the time to do a little refinishing work. I have been working on my own house for a few years, and you wouldn't believe how big of a difference the right stain or door hardware can make. Read my blog for loads of free door advice.