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Wood is a natural material and its aesthetic appeal and durability cannot be replaced by man-made materials. With a little care, timber will outperform any substitute.
Most exterior solid woods will weather, move and split and regular maintenance in terms of filling and refinishing is needed to keep your door in good condition over the years. All our doors are delivered to you unfinished together with the necessary finishing materials ready for on-site finish. In order to maintain all these beautiful woods, the following information about care and treatment is very important and should ensure that your door remains in good condition for years to come.
All woods are likely to bleach to a grey colour if they are exposed to ultra-violet light and not protected by some sort of coating. It is essential to treat the door as soon as you receive it, first by staining it and/or by applying a minimum of two coats of treatment, lightly sanding between each coat. The finishing treatment - lacquer or oiling - should be applied to the front and back of the door prior to hanging. You should also seal all cut-outs like hinges, letterboxes and locks.
Please note that general purpose oil paints or varnishes are too brittle to follow any moisture movement of the wood. We recommend high-quality specialized treatments similar to Sikkens and Sadoline. Clear finishes will not protect your door from ultra violet or colour degradation. To prevent this, it is necessary to include a pigment (stain) into the surface finish (Sikkens). The exception to this is the Sadoline Extra-Durable Clear Coat which, even though it is clear, is designed to provide UV protection.
Please ensure that you treat your door once every year or two, depending on exposure. All it takes is a light sanding and then one coat of treatment.
If the width of the door is to be reduced this must be done equally on both sides by a maximum of 2mm on either side. And if the height is to be reduced the same applies.
The door must be stored in a cool, dry atmosphere and kept flat against a wall (please make sure it is well fastened as it is very heavy) or it should be laid on a completely flat surface. The door should also not be hung in damp or newly plastered rooms or suddenly exposed to central heating or other forms of direct heat. We highly recommend that our doors should at least be protected by a canopy or porch and for more exposed areas, you should increase the treatment of the door by a minimum of one extra coat. Cedar is a softer timber than all the timbers we use and is more likely to split, indent and mark.
Please read in conjunction with our terms and conditions and our coating information for external doors.
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