Taking care of your wooden door so it lasts a lifetime!
Wood is one of the most classic and traditional building materials thanks to its beauty, but it does require regular maintenance and care to keep it looking beautiful over time. Taking care of wood around your home often means taking care of various structures from your fence to siding to your front door. Here are some simple steps to help take care of your wood doors so that they last for many years to come.
What to Look For
The outside can take a big toll on everything in its path, including your wood doors. Over time, environmental moisture, dirt, sand, and sunlight will all take a toll on the finish of your wood doors. The damage can accelerate if your exterior wood door is exposed directly to the elements and not underneath an overhang of any sort. When checking out your wood door, look for the following:
- Large cracks in the finish
- Surface checks
- Peeling paint
- A raised wood grain
- A door that feels dry or rough to the touch
- Dark streaks in the wood underneath the finish
- A light haze to the finish
Take Care of Your Wood Door
Once you have determined that there is a problem with your wood door, you need to take care of it! To get the job done:
- Clean the door
- If there are any spots where paint has rubbed off, complete touch-ups
- Take the door out of the frame for any major restoration work
- Strip the old finish off of your wood door using a paint remover
- Sand the wood door down with a 120, 150, or higher grit sandpaper with the grain
- Clean off the dust and sanding residue
- Apply an exterior primer on each side of the door
- Repaint the door with exterior paint
- Dry and rehang the door
Hire a Wonderful Craftsman for Your Interior Design and Architectural Millwork
Mahogany Inc. is a general contractor that specializes in quality construction for residential and commercial projects. We have the expertise and experience to tackle whatever your custom woodwork job is (and acquire those hard to find woods you might want to use!). If you are looking for work that will set your living room, kitchen, or business apart, contact us online or give us a call at (410) 727-0334. To see examples of our wonderful work and see what our customers have to say, check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.