Wooden front doors are a popular choice with homeowners because they offer a stylish and welcoming entry into your home. But like any exterior material, they need to be maintained properly.
Wood is a natural product and minor swelling and shrinking is to be expected. However, there are several factors that can affect your door and its finish, which is why it’s important to keep up with routine maintenance.
Temperature
A timber external door is a real asset to any property, whether left as natural woodgrain or painted in a bright zingy colour to express your personality. However, even the most durable hardwood can suffer from weathering and it’s not uncommon for doors to start sticking in their frames or warping due to temperature changes over time. This can be a nuisance for homeowners and cause issues with opening and closing the door, as well as letting in cold air and draughts.
One of the biggest causes for this is a lack of maintenance, which can lead to old paint and varnish coatings becoming stuck to the panels and mouldings. This prevents the door from expanding and contracting with humidity or temperature changes, causing visible cracks.
The best way to prevent this is to regularly clean your wooden doors. This can be as simple as giving them a wipe down every week with a damp cloth and mild detergent or diluted washing-up liquid to remove dirt, debris and contaminants from the surface. If you are noticing signs of damage, it’s important to carry out a deeper clean at least twice a year with warm water and a non-abrasive sponge or scrubber. It’s also important to ensure your door is fully dry after cleaning, so point a fan at it or leave it to air dry naturally.
Humidity
Wooden doors can shrink and swell with temperature change, which can cause friction damage to the frame over time. If the problem is not addressed, it can lead to squeaky and sticky doors, as well as preventing them from opening or closing easily. This can also cause damage to the lock and other fixtures and fittings within the door.
During warmer weather, humidity can also affect wooden doors. This is because high humidity levels can cause them to swell, which makes it difficult to open and close them. It can also cause them to warp, which can put their structural integrity at risk.
To prevent this, it’s important to regulate the humidity in your home. Keeping internal windows open will help to promote air flow throughout your home, which can help to equalise moisture levels. You can also use a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air, which will help to reduce swelling and prevent warping.
The UK’s ever-changing weather can wreak havoc on your doors, especially if they are made from wood or uPVC. But, with the right care and maintenance, you can keep your doors in good condition all year round. So, before the winter weather arrives, take the time to seal any gaps in your doors and frames, and don’t forget to invest in some replacement window weather stripping to keep cold air out and heat in!
Sunlight
Although we all love the sun, it can cause damage to wooden surfaces in the home. Direct sunlight can cause wood to expand and shrink depending on the amount of moisture present. This can also lead to the wood absorbing and losing essential components at a cellular level that keep it healthy. This can result in the finish of your door cracking, fading and looking dull.
A good way to protect your wooden doors is to apply a protective coat such as an external varnish or polyurethane. Ensure that the paint is designed to be used on wooden exteriors and is a suitable colour for your home. Lighter colours are ideal as they will reflect rather than absorb heat and sunlight, keeping your door cooler. It is also a good idea to apply a primer before applying the top coat to allow the surface of the door to become well-prepared and prevent it from peeling in the future.
Once your door has been treated with a protective coating, it will be protected from the elements and can last much longer than it would without treatment. However, if you have already noticed your door starting to look dull or worn out, it is still important to act quickly. A reputable wooden door restoration service will be able to repair any signs of damage and bring your door back to life.
Water
Wooden doors can add a real wow factor to a property whether they are left in their natural state to show off the beauty of the wood grain or painted a zingy colour to express your personality. However, they can be affected by the weather and need to be protected to prolong their lifespan.
Wood is a naturally absorbent material and if it is not protected by varnish, rainwater can cause the door to swell. This is not only unsightly but it can also affect the functionality of a wooden door. It can prevent the door from opening and closing properly and could even lead to rot if not addressed quickly.
If a wooden door starts to stick or jam, it is likely that there is a gap somewhere around the frame and a draught is coming in causing an increase in your heating bills. A draughty wooden door can also damage the weatherproof seal which is installed when your doors are fitted.
If your door is sticking or jamming, a quick fix can be a simple re-alignment of the hinges. Alternatively, it may be a sign that the weatherproof seal has been compromised and that it is time to replace it.