Close entry 15/03/17 - Ways to protect your oak doors
Ways to protect your oak doors
It’s essential to make sure you look after your oak doors, as it plays a pivotal role in preserving the strength and appearance of the wood. Doors require as much care and attention as most other parts of the house in order to prolong their use, and if you care for them properly, they really will last a lifetime. There are various precautions you can take to ensure the ongoing life of your door, from the moment you receive it, to when it’s hung on its hinges in your home.
Inspection
Upon receiving your door, it’s important to check the condition and suitability of it for any damages that could have occurred during transit. Since doors are well sealed before being sent off, it’s unlikely that you’ll encounter any problems, however it is better to just check so you can be sure. After checking your door, it’s vital to reseal the packaging so as to not allow any moisture coming into contact with the oak, and carefully place it back in its box.
Unless you decide to treat the door immediately, keep the plastic wrapper sealed and airtight as water may become trapped in the door after applying any treatment, which as a result could in movements or distortions such as swelling, shrinking or splitting.
Storing your doors
Where and how you store your doors is also pivotal in ensuring that they remain in excellent condition. Doors must be stored in a dry, well ventilated room with their protective packaging fully sealed, so they’re protected from any dampness or moisture. This is especially important for unfinished or untreated doors, as they are generally more likely to absorb moisture from the air, which can cause them to warp.
With regards to the positioning of the door, it’s crucial to store them flat and, ideally, supported off the floor with at least 3 full-width bearers of the same dimension. Many people make the mistake of standing doors upright against a wall which can actually be really damaging to the door. Although it saves space to have them up against a wall, you should refrain from doing so because if you have your doors leant at an angle, it may cause it to bend. As oak is so heavy its weight needs to be distributed evenly, either horizontally or vertically, and if it were to fall to the floor it could become damaged.
Maintenance
If you bought untreated doors, you must treat them with a high quality treatment prior to hanging them, as it’s more difficult to get to the areas around the hinges, and do so in a dry environment and as soon as you remove the packaging so as to not allow the door to be exposed to moisture for too long.
There is a great variety of products to choose from to use on your door, including wood oils, waxes, stains, polishes, and varnishes which help to protect your doors in the best way possible.
Once your doors are up on their hinges, just be sure to pay attention to any wear and tear, as this can increase the life and quality of your door. Sometimes all it needs is a refresh in certain places, which can really make a difference to the look of your door.
