Learn how to care for your front door.
Your front door is the focal point of your home. It is the place where you welcome guests in and out of your house. It is the first part of your house you touch when you come home from a long day at work. So, not only is it a functional part of your home, but the front door is an integral part of your property. You need to make sure that it is cared for properly to maintain a clean exterior. This article will discuss how to more efficiently and effectively maintain your front door.
Look Out for These
When trying to figure out how to best care for your front door, you need to assess what areas of concern will matter most. First, you should inspect all six sides of the door at least once a year as a baseline for preventative maintenance. Since most doors are made of wood, environment and climate are huge factors that must be taken into consideration. Moisture, dirt and sand, and sunlight are a few of the things that can have a huge impact on the finish that protects the wood of the door. If your front door lacks a porch or an overhang, it is even more vulnerable to the elements. Check for cracks in the finish and peeling paint, as these should be addressed first when starting your front door maintenance.
Prepare
Once you identify problem areas to be fixed or things that you want to keep looking good, the exterior wood of the door needs to be prepared for repair or maintenance. Clean the door thoroughly and touch up paint chips or lackluster areas. If your door needs extensive help, it may be easier to remove it from the frame itself and work on it apart from the house.
The Finish
If you strip your front door down to the basic wood, it must be cleaned of dust and sanding residue with a damp, clean cloth. The door must then be allowed to dry completely. After it dries, you can repaint your door any color you like, but a good quality exterior primer should be applied on all of its six sides. Consider using light colors for painting your door, as they will last longer than dark colors that absorb heat. If you prefer a darker color, two or more coats of polyurethane with an ultraviolet light inhibitor can be applied per the manufacturer’s instructions.
Craftsmen at Mahogany Inc. Are Here to Help
If you are looking for a contractor to either do light or heavy maintenance on your front door, Mahogany Inc. is here for you. We possess both the expertise and experience to handle whatever problem you need tackled. Call us with any questions at 410-727-0334 and a licensed professional will be sure to help. To see examples of our work and to gain inspiration for you next project, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest