While there are other door materials out there—steel, aluminum, fiberglass—there’s something about a wood door that just can’t be beat. However, you’ll need to be prepared for what you’re getting into before you go out and buy these doors. Here are some things you should know before you let wood doors into your home and life:
1. They’re sensitive to moisture. If not properly treated, the wood could swell, contract and change shape. This is especially true if your door is constantly exposed to the elements. The end result? Your insulation could suffer since once your door has warped, it’s going to result in air leaks around the door.
2. A covered entryway will do wonders. Constant exposure to rain is going to affect your wood door in less than ideal ways. You can help your door last longer, though, by providing it with the protection of a roof. However, not all roofs can pull this off. Make sure yours does the job. It must cover at least half of the door to be effective. And when it comes to width, always make sure the roof is 1 and ½ the width of your door.
3. Renew those coats, says This Old House. You’ll need to be consistent with the upkeep. If your door is exposed to the sun for more than four hours every day, that’s going to cause the door’s colors to fade rather quickly. You can keep this from happening by applying a new coat every two years for clear-coated doors. If you’ve got a painted door on your hands, then it’s best to have them repainted every five years or six to keep it looking fresh and vibrant.
4. Make sure the sill is high enough. You want to it to put in a sill that’s about four to six inches. This way, if snow builds up in your entryway or there’s rainwater on the porch, you won’t have to worry that they’ll be in direct contact with your door. It’s a good tip to remember so your door won’t have to suffer from rot as a result.
5. Best to invest in 1 ¾ inch thick doors for improved insulation. Get those with an R-value of 2.5. With excellent weather stripping, you can keep the air infiltration low.
So if you want simple-styled doors well able to deliver quite a visual impact at the same time, go for wood. It’s a solid choice.
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