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Maintenance Tips for Your Exterior and Entry Doors

Feb 6, 2018 12:30:00 PM

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Your front door is likely the entry door that receives the most attention in your home, but all of your exterior doors require regular maintenance due to their exposure to the elements. Weathering eventually damages even the toughest fiberglass and metal doors, but proper exterior door maintenance is easy enough once you know what to do. All of the various types of entry doors Maryland homeowners install require their own specific care routines based around the changing seasons. Take great care of your exterior and entry doors all year-round with these maintenance tips.

Materials and Maintenance

The material used to manufacture your front door plays a large role in determining how much maintenance it needs each year. Wood doors need attention every season and major care like sanding and painting every few years, while fiberglass and metal doors often only need an annual cleaning and the rare additional improvement. In addition to these three common types of exterior doors, your home may also have glass doors that require their own care. The type of metal used for the front or side door also determines its maintenance needs. Aluminum needs more attention than steel, and the price varies to reflect the difference.

Annual Attention

All exterior doors, regardless of make or style, should be inspected at least once a year for signs of damage or weathering. Wood doors and other painted doors will eventually peel, turn chalky on the surface, or develop cracks in the paint surface. Sanding and painting the door at the first signs of paint damage can prevent the wood from warping, rotting, and changing color. Metal doors don't usually need paint applied as regularly as wood doors, but they'll eventually start to develop signs of the finish aging, like pits and rust spots. Painting the door with an exterior metal-compatible paint preserves the finish and the underlying metal from further damage, and annual inspection will help you catch the warning signs that it's time to paint.

Give the hinges a check and look for loose, rattling, or broken panes of glass inset into the door. Loose or sticking hinges need attention, while loose or cracked glass panes are a security hazard that make it easier for criminals to break in. Call for door repairs if you notice any of these problems during your annual exterior door inspection. If you're not sure what's wrong with a certain door, a professional inspection will uncover the issue.

Seasonal Changes

Wood doors in particular are prone to needing some extra maintenance over the seasons. Changing temperatures and varying humidity levels can cause these doors to shrink or swell. When you combine that kind of change with the potential shrinking or swelling of the wood door frame, it's not surprising that some wood exterior doors end up sticking or hanging loose with gaps around the door's edges. Sticking doors can be shaved down, but it's better to try waxing the edges so they more easily slide loose. If you shave down an exterior door, there is a chance of a gap developing during the winter when the wood shrinks from drier and colder conditions. Keeping wood exterior doors as airtight as possible increases your home's energy efficiency during all four seasons.

Painting or Replacing Your Exterior Doors

Many people want to stretch as much life out of an entry door as possible and end up painting it nearly every year just to keep it coated. If your door keeps peeling and cracking no matter what you do to prepare the surface, it's time for a new exterior door. Many metal doors are hard to coat evenly after the factory powder coating starts to flake and peel off. Sanding the surface smooth is tricky and even thick coats of paint don't do much to disguise the underlying unevenness. Installing a brand-new door with a fresh finish eliminates these routine exterior chores and allows you to enjoy the beauty of your home's exterior without worrying about the upcoming maintenance.

Find Your New Doors

Ready to improve your home's curb appeal and overall value by installing a few new exterior and entry doors? Explore the options we offer here at Exterior Medics. As a full range door, window, and exterior improvement contractor, we have the experience and materials to make your home safer and more attractive at the same time. Upgrade to reinforced glass entry doors to let in natural light while keeping out intruders, or swap that peeling wood door for a steel one that will last decades before beginning to show its age. With so many different types of exterior doors available, Maryland and Virginia homeowners can quickly mix and match the right designs for a cohesive look that blends in with the home's current exterior style.