After all the time and energy you spend picking the right entrance door, it makes sense to protect your investment with regular door maintenance. Like any other piece of fine furniture in your home, a well looked after door can improve the aesthetic appeal of your home and its market value.

Paying careful attention to your door also maximises its durability and operation. With that in mind, here are some tips to keep your door looking great for years to come.

Regular cleaning

Take the time to clean your door on both sides, especially if you live in a coastal area where there is salt and moisture in the air. Doing this on a regular monthly basis not only helps your door to look great, but may also save you from having to repaint or recoat.

Cleaning the door doesn’t have to be difficult and time consuming. Simply dilute dish soap or baby shampoo with warm water and use a lint-free cloth or sponge to scrub the door. This way, you will remove dirt and dust without leaving scratch marks. Clean up any excess liquid to avoid staining or discoloring the door surface.

Routine check

Along with regular cleaning, we suggest a regular routine check to identify any damage to the door and its components. This way you can carry out restoration work sooner rather than later and keep your door in tip top condition.

Here are some of the things you should check:

• Moisture

Dark streaks or whitish marks in the grain under a clear finish could mean a build up of moisture or a damaged finish. When left untreated moisture can rot a doors wooden frame and blister the paintwork. Repairing the problem as soon as you spot it can stop the moisture from spreading and further damaging your door.

• Finishing

It’s important to look at the overall condition of your door. The finish protects the wood so it’s necessary that it remains in good shape. You may want to check for faded, cracked, chipped or peeling finishes and whether the door has a dull or raised surface. If you notice any of these signs, make sure to refinish or recoat before more damage is caused to the surface. And don’t forget to avoid overly dark colours, so your don’t void your warranty!

• Timber Frames

Checking your timber door frame for cracks and other issues that need fixing is also vital for keeping your door in perfect shape. While you’re checking the frame, it’s great a time to tighten all the hinge screws.

Periodic lubrication

Proper lubrication can make all the difference to your doors health. Paying attention to moving parts such as the hinges, rollers and tracks leads to a noise-free, smooth and easy operation.

Choosing the right lubricant is essential to your door functioning properly – the wrong product may damage the materials used to build your door. You should also inspect your locks to ensure they don’t have any problems such as dirt, rust or defective mechanisms.

As we’ve discussed, and you’ve likely seen us mention before, your front door in particular needs regular maintenance. Some of these issues can also affect internal doors, so it is important to ensure you regularly maintain all doors.

Follow these tips and extend the beauty and functionality of your door year after year.

If you are looking to update your entrance door or you’re in the middle of a new home build, check out our door distributors for their wide range of beautiful external and internal Hume Doors & Timber.