This page will provide you with general advice and tips on how to care for your door, the information given below should only be used as a guide only and you should always refer to manufacturers recommendations for accurate instructions.
We would strongly advise using our Decoration Advice page which will guide you to the manufacturers recommendations for your specific door, this will help ensure you have a long lasting door.
With over 30 years’ experience in the industry and the ability to provide customers with top quality doors we have given you qualified advice on how to care for your doors, the end result if you use our tips, is a fantastic looking door for your home.
When fitting wooden doors, such as oak, mahogany and pine, it is important that you apply the correct treatments to ensure your product realizes its full potential in terms of look and durability. Doors are generally supplied to you already sanded. However, during fitting, they generally acquire some wear and tear.
Below are some tips when you receive your new door:
- It is always best to (where possible) add the finishing coat of decoration to doors after they have been hinged/fitted, especially Exterior doors.
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When sanding, always go with the grain of the wood to avoid leaving scratches, if using sandpaper (rather than wire wool) fold the edges over and use this folded edge to prevent the sharper cut edge of the paper going into the grain and causing a splinter.
In our experience wire wool gives a better finish and you don't run the risk of scratching the glass if your hand slips.
Below you will find some treatment advice, again this is a guide only we would recommend that you refer to the manufacturers treatment recommendations which can be found on our Decoration Advice page.
- Yacht varnish is in most cases too inflexible, it does not move with the door and can allow moisture to penetrate over time. The first signs that this has happened will be a whitening at the joints and where the mouldings meet the panel or glass.
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Sikkens is one of the best makes. You will need to sand the wood in between each application with a fine sandpaper or wire wool as mentioned previously. Always make sure that the end grain is adequately coated, i.e. the top and bottom of the door. - Before applying anything to a new softwood door, coat any knots in the wood to seal them and stop resin bleeding through to the new coating on the door. If the door has not been pre-treated with a preservative, then you can do this by applying a clear wood preserver.
The above is for information only, we do not sell the cheaper Knotty Pine doors as they are a constant problem, they move more than a bag of worms.
Your door should be decorated every three years, some wood care products can last up to ten years, however, if you live in a coastal area or a harsh climate, you may have to add wood care protection to the door more frequently to keep it in good condition.
If you do have any other queries or just require some help then contact our team via e-mail and they will respond to you as quickly as possible, you can contact them on info@directdoors.com