6 Wood Door Maintenance Tips For Long-Lasting Doors

As a homeowner, you want every aspect of your home to be in good condition, and your wood front doors should be no exception. Not only do they hold significant functions in your home, but they also offer aesthetic value. Since they are the first thing guests see when they visit you, freshening up your door can enhance your curb appeal immensely.

So, if you want to keep the front door in good shape, here are some simple yet effective tips on wood door maintenance to help you out.

Let’s get started!

How to Make Your Exterior Wood Door Last Longer 

Wooden doors’ natural beauty is one of the main reasons why they increase your home’s curb appeal. However, wood doors need special care and maintenance to keep them looking good and performing at optimal levels for longer.

1. Clean Your Door Regularly

Wooden doors’ number one enemy is dust. It scratches the door’s surface, wears out its protective layer, and settles in between grooves. Good thing you can easily prevent this with weekly dusting. Use a feather duster and dust the entire door to clean it properly. 

You can go the extra mile and clean tough dirt. Follow our wooden door cleaning tips below to keep yours squeaky clean:

• Use homemade cleaning products, such as mild soap mixed with water, to remove dirt and grit. 
• Use a soft-bristled brush and gentle strokes to avoid scratching the wood, focusing on the gaps when cleaning your door! If you don’t have a brush, a soft sponge can be a good substitute.
• Avoid using abrasive cleaning materials such as steel wool and scrubbers to clean your wooden doors. These can easily scratch them and wear down the coating. 

Pro Tip🚪: Solid wood is sensitive to warm, moist air and any temperature changes as humidity can cause the wood to rot, warp, expand, or crack. So, be sure to wipe the surface with a dry, soft cloth. Avoid using harsh chemicals when removing stains and dirt, and use a special wax to repair the splits or cracks on the door.

Image source: Canva

2. Polish Your Exterior Wood Doors

Another way to maintain your curb appeal while having a wooden exterior door is by polishing it. You can do this any time they start to look duller.  

For polishing materials, make sure to use waterproof and durable polish, such as polyurethane polish. However, this is not well-suited for exterior doors that get a lot of sunlight since polyurethane polish can turn your exterior doors yellow if they’re under direct sunlight for prolonged periods.

Other polishing materials you can use include the following:

• Varnish: UV-resistant and long-lasting
• Lacquer polish: Dries quickly
• Wax-based polish: Easily hides the scratches on your exterior wooden door

3. Refinish the Coating on Your Wood Door

Another good wood door maintenance tip to follow is to refinish the coating on your door. Do note that the frequency of refinishing your wooden door would depend on where you live and how exposed it is to natural elements. 

For instance, if you live in an area with a harsher climate, you may need to refinish your exterior door more often.

Image source: Canva

You can tell if your wooden exterior door needs refinishing if it’s showing discolouration or deterioration, such as chipping or peeling paint, cracks, or rust on the door’s hardware. That said, refinishing your door may require more technical know-how, so it’s recommended that you hire a professional for this job. 

4. Check the Functionality of Your Door’s Hardware

When it comes to wooden door maintenance, many tend to forget about the hardware. Door accessories are an important part of exterior wooden doors, and ensuring they perform at optimal levels keeps your wooden doors in good condition as well. 

So, make sure to clean your door’s hardware regularly to prevent dirt and grime build-up. Regular cleaning also prevents stains on the locks, hinges, and doorknob. It’s also important to lubricate the door’s hardware to ensure they can operate smoothly. 

Image source: Canva

You can clean your doorknobs, door handles, hinges, and locks with mild dish soap and water to prevent rust and dirt buildup. Use metal polish to maintain the shine of your door’s accessories.

5. Check the Weatherstripping

An often overlooked aspect of wood door maintenance is weatherstripping—it seals your door to prevent air leaks and drafts from seeping through the gaps of your door. This also improves your home’s energy efficiency, resulting in reduced energy bills. In fact, weatherstripping your exterior wooden door can save you as much as 5%-10% on your utility costs.

So, inspect your door’s weatherstripping and check if you feel a draft coming in. Small chunks may be missing, or the entire rubber lining may be damaged. Additionally, light seeping through the seal may also be a sign you need to replace the weatherstripping. 

If your weatherstripping is damaged, you can simply cut it out and replace it with the same type you used on your door before.

Out With the Old, in With the New: Durable Doors From Burano 

Wood door maintenance may extend your door’s lifespan a bit longer, but preserving it could only get more expensive. So if you want to minimize your losses, replace it with one that features wood’s best qualities, minus its drawbacks—fibreglass exterior doors. 

Say goodbye to wood rot and swelling, with maintenance-free doors made to stand the test of time and harsh Canadian weather. The best part? They’re customizable at factory-direct prices and come with a lifetime warranty. 

That’s the Burano Doors guarantee. With over 40 years of experience under our belt, we have been Ontarians’ trusted manufacturer of high-quality doors, offering seamless services from quotation to installation. 

So don’t fret about regular wooden door maintenance—Contact us today and get the exterior door upgrade you deserve!