Fact: The better you treat your doors, the longer they'll last.
With wooden doors, the biggest risk is fading, warping or rotting over time. That's why it's important to check your exterior doors a few times per year to help you stay on top of any maintenance issues and fix any problems before they become major issues.
Here's what you should do each time you check your door for maintenance:
- Wipe clean with a damp cloth. This will help remove any pollen or buildup that could threaten the quality of your paint job over time.
- Assess any surface level issues, like chipped paint or dents. Whether these issues are problematic enough to do anything about right then is up to you, but it's still important to keep track of any blemishes.
- Apply new paint and finish, if needed. A fresh coat of paint can go a long way in refreshing the look of your door, and the right finish can help protect the wood from mold and rot.
- Repeat every 4-6 months. While your doors don't need a ton of oversight, checking in once per season (or a little longer) is the best way to stay on top of maintenance.
Following these simple steps can help easily extend the lifespan of your doors until it's time for a replacement. It won't take you longer than an hour or so to do, but will help instill the confidence that your doors are in good shape for the time being.
Of course, once it's time for a replacement, you know where to go.