Interior and Exterior Doors – How to Care for the Doors in Your Home

There are many varieties of door styles available that add beauty to your home. Doors also protect you from the elements as well as provide privacy and noise reduction. Most interior doors are made from wood and are “hollow”. Exterior doors can be made of solid wood, fiberglass, or metal. Proper care of both your interior and exterior doors can not only enhance the beauty of your home, but also help to continue the benefits the doors provide. According to my father, simply closing the front door kept him from “heating the whole world”!

Exterior Doors

You may notice that the doors of your home will warp a bit from normal temperature changes and moisture content. However, wood doors should not warp so much as to keep them from working properly. If a door is becoming warped, keeping it closed properly may help it warp back in to its proper shape. If the door is too far gone to even close properly, it may very well be time to replace the door.

Some wind and water infiltration is normal if you have heavy rains or strong storms. Periodically check the weather-stripping around your doors to make sure you have a secure seal. Sometimes, simply replacing the weather stripping or adjusting the threshold can make a large difference in the effectiveness of your exterior doors.

For sliding patio doors, make sure you keep the tracks clean and free of debris and lubricate as needed. Don’t forget that there is weather stripping around your sliding doors, too, that needs to be checked on and replaced if it is too loose.

Stained exterior doors tend to weather faster than painted doors. It is safe to plan on re-staining your doors every year. Look into storm doors as an alternative to help your stain last longer.

Interior Doors

Interior doors are subject to all the normal expanding, contracting, and warping commonly found with wood products. Simple things such as shower or dishwasher humidity can lead to this expanding and contracting issue. Keeping consistent humidity levels in your home can help alleviate this issue.

Interior doors that “stick” may need an adjustment. By simply sanding that area that sticks you should have your interior door “un-stuck” easily. Don’t forget to check that the hinges and screws are tightened properly.

The hinges on interior doors may need some lubrication from time to time to keep them from “squeaking”. Check with your local hardware specialist for the correct product to use, or check with your doors manufacturer. Personally, I have been known to use a little squirt of non-stick cooking spray to stop the noise. I’m not positive my manufacturer would approve, though!

As your doing your “door check” don’t overlook your garage door! Some light visible through the cracks is normal, but make sure all weather stripping fits securely and the door runs smoothly on its tracks.