How to Protect a Wooden Door from the Rain
A wooden door is an asset to a home. Despite its many advantages, a wooden door requires extra care and attention. This is due to the fact that wooden doors can become warped and misshapen when they come into contact with moisture. Because of this, homeowners should protect their wooden doors from rain.
What are the benefits of wooden doors?
Installing a wooden door offers various benefits. Wooden doors are more aesthetically pleasing than other types of doors, allowing for a classy and elegant look. Some homeowners may even consider their wooden door to be the crown jewel of their home.
In addition to being pleasing to look at, wooden doors are versatile. Homeowners may paint them any color they wish and still achieve aesthetic brilliance. Wooden doors have the ability to be sculpted and cut. Homeowners who want a window in the wooden door can easily install one.
While fiberglass and steel doors lack color variation, the colors of wooden doors are unlimited. Homeowners may cater to their whimsical side and paint the door pink, green, or blue. Other door materials simply do not offer this aesthetic feature.
A practical benefit of wooden doors is their insulative capabilities. Homeowners who install wooden doors often have lower energy bills. Wooden doors permit only trace amounts of heat and cold into the home. With regular maintenance, wooden doors prevent drafts and skyrocketing utility bills.
Lastly, wooden doors are extremely durable, even considered to be among the most durable materials available. Front doors, especially, need to be strong in order to withstand the inevitable wear and tear. Wooden doors stand up to rain, snow, wind, and even physical shocks when properly maintained.
What are the disadvantages of wooden doors?
Despite the many benefits of wooden doors, these types of doors require extra upkeep. Other than tending to sag over time, wooden doors have a major drawback: regular maintenance. As mentioned, rain can eventually warp a wooden door, so it needs to be protected from the elements.
When a wooden door is exposed to rainwater, it has the tendency to warp. Eventually, it will fail to properly open and close. The function of the wooden door is severely impacted and in an unsafe way. Plus, wooden doors absorb rainwater and become heavier, stressing its supporting systems.
Homeowners can lengthen the lifespan and preserve the integrity of a wooden door by performing maintenance. Upkeep includes painting or varnishing the door, checking for droughts, sealing around the door, sealing the bottom of the door, and following a maintenance schedule.
How to Protect a Wooden Door from the Rain?
1. Paint or varnish the door
In order for a wooden door to last for decades, it must be primed, undercoated then top coated. These steps ensure a good seal and weatherproof the wooden door. Hardwood doors perform best with oils and varnishes as opposed to paints. Reapplication when necessary is a must.
While a quick application of varnish instantly improves the look of a wooden door, a proper job requires multiple coats. Applying the varnish is easiest when the door is removed. The door should be sanded and stained. Staining also offers ultraviolet protection when the door faces the sun.
2. Install a storm door
A storm door is a second, outer door that may serve multiple functions. One important function is to protect the main, wooden door from rain and the other elements, like snow and ice. An additional advantage is that the storm door keeps warm air in and cold air out.
Storm doors are available in various materials, including vinyl, aluminum, fiberglass, or wood. These protective doors may be painted to match the color of the home’s exterior. Storm doors also have the added benefit of permitting ventilation while keeping out the bugs.
3. Add an awning
Installing an awning or canopy will protect the wooden door from rain, as well as sleet, snow, and hail. By redirecting the rain from the wooden doors, the doors remain protected from falling moisture. As a result of setting up an awning, the life of the wooden doors is extended.
A retractable awning is a practical option when the homeowner does not want it extended at all times. Especially during inclement weather, such as torrential rainstorms, a retractable awning can be extended and serve as special protection for the wooden doors.
Wooden doors, when exposed to rainwater, can swell, especially when they lack a protective finishing. Consequently, it is important to protect wooden doors from moisture. Fixing a swollen door is not always an easy fix. But protecting the wooden door with any of above strategies will be useful.
Expansion and contraction are expected when changes to weather occur. Without a sealant, a wooden door that has been exposed to rainwater can swell and fail to return to its original shape. While the moisture may dry out, the structure of the wood can be irreversibly altered.
4. Use a Door Sweep
A door sweep is an easy and effective way to shield your wooden door from rain damage. By installing a door sweep at the bottom of the door, you create a seal that blocks water from seeping in underneath. This is crucial because moisture can cause wood to swell, warp, or deteriorate over time.
Beyond protecting the door from rain, a door sweep also helps keep out drafts, which can make your home more comfortable and reduce energy costs. It effectively blocks cold air in the winter and hot air in the summer, improving your home’s overall energy efficiency.
Water Damage Restoration Services
Water damage is known to spread rapidly, making it important that homeowners contact a reputable water damage restoration expert as quickly as possible after first noticing the destruction. Professional technicians respond immediately to water damage to halt its course.
Whether your water damage emergency is due to rainwater, a leaky appliance, or a plumbing malfunction, you require the experience and skill of professional water damage experts. Water damage technicians will work swiftly to extract the excess water from the property and fully dry it out.
Without an immediate response from water damage restoration professionals, a minor instance of water damage can balloon into a major hassle. Mold can latch onto damp surfaces and multiply within 48 hours. Fortunately, professional water damage techs remove existing mold and prevent its reoccurrence.
About Vince Sandri
Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.
