Oak doors are not only striking to the eye and complementary to the décor in your room, but they are also durable, meaning that they will continue to add value to your home for years to come. High-quality oak doors, for all their beauty and splendour, require a higher level of maintenance than other types of doors because of their composition.
To maintain their lustre and ensure their durability, steps need to be taken to maintain them over the years. What are these steps and how often should you take them?
How Often Should You Schedule Maintenance for Your Oak Doors?
Maria from Doors Galore says “This answer depends entirely upon the location of the door and the conditions to which the door is exposed.” Massive temperature swings, high traffic and excessive humidity? Regular, thorough and consistent maintenance is necessary to make sure these doors stay in great shape. Low traffic, consistent temperatures and low humidity? In this instance, you can do the maintenance less frequently because the stresses on the door are fewer and less frequent.
Expert Tips to Maintain the Natural Beauty of Your Oak Doors
There are three major components to ensuring that your doors are properly maintained throughout the years.
Cleaning.
Finishing.
Repairing.
Repairs should always be completed by a qualified craftsman who is well versed in the repair and handling of oak doors. While this component is typically out of the realm of possibility for most homeowners, the first two are well within the ability of the average person to execute. What are the best ways to maintain your oaks doors?
Cleaning Your Oak Doors
Regardless of the type of oak door you own, whether that be a solid oak door, engineered oak or oak veneer, they need to be cleaned before they can be worked on. How do you go about cleaning these doors in preparation for the next steps?
Mix water with a mild detergent.
Use a soft, lint-free cloth.
Wipe away any dust and debris from the door surface, making sure to get into the cracks.
When the surface of the door is clean, dry with a soft cloth, waiting till completely dry to apply any other oils or cleaners.
Regular cleaning (weekly) should be done to keep doors in pristine condition
Finishing Your Doors
To enhance the natural grain of the wood, oak doors are either oiled, waxed or varnished as a finishing process and this finish gets damaged and degraded over time. Maintaining this finish is a crucial part of oak door maintenance. What do you need to do to protect your beautiful wooden doors?
If your door needs to be re-oiled, it will likely first need to be sanded. Sand the door with sandpaper that is no finer than 240 grit in preparation for the oil.
Door oil brings out the natural beauty of the wood and should be used for internal oak doors, as they are less likely to be subject to harsh conditions. Follow the instructions on whichever oil you are using (tung oil, Darnish oil, hard wax oil, etc) when applying the oil to make sure that the oil penetrates deep into the wood and offers the best protection.
Waxing your doors is another option for those who are resistant to treating oak doors with oil. Wax finishes need to be applied, worked into the grain and polished to get the best look and feel.
Varnish is the most durable of the finishes but also requires more maintenance. Re-varnishing an oak door is an intricate process and should be undertaken with the supervision of a professional.
The Long-Lasting Beauty of Oak Doors
These doors will remain an impressive part of your home for decades if you take care of them properly. Follow these tips to ensure you get to enjoy your doors for years to come.
