How to Care for Your New Door

Storage Before Installation

• Store your door flat in a dry, well-ventilated space.
• Avoid direct sunlight, heat sources, or damp environments.
• Never store in a room with wet plaster or fresh renovation work, allow at least six weeks drying time.

‍

Installation

• Use an experienced door installer. A well-fitted door will operate smoothly, seal correctly, and last significantly longer.
• If your door comes with a weatherbar, make sure a high-quality waterproof sealant is used when fixing it in place to prevent water ingress.

‍

Finishing Your Door

• The primer your door arrives with is not fully waterproof, so it’s extremely important to apply the final finish either before installation or, at the latest, the day after installation. Please ensure this is done before any rain or moisture exposure, as this can cause issues with paint adhesion, lead to swelling and twisting of the timber, and in worst cases, result in warping.
• Finish your door with a high-quality, weather-resistant oil based paint or stain. Our doors and frames are delivered primed with a professional, industrial-grade primer (nitrocellulose-based) that is generally compatible with most paint systems. However, some more specialist products are designed to work specifically with their own Exterior Wood Primer & Undercoat. Please make sure you follow the instructions on the side of the tin.
• Finish both sides and all four edges, including hinge, lock, and letterbox cut-outs.
• Apply at least three coats of finish for full protection.
• Avoid dark-coloured paints and staines. Doors exposed to direct sunlight can absorb heat which can lead to cracks in the timber, twisting and warping.

‍

‍

Ongoing Maintenance

• Inspect your door regularly for signs of wear or damage.  
• Lightly sand and reapply a coat of your chosen finish at least once a year. including hinge, lock, and letterbox cut-outs.
• Promptly address any small cracks, splits, or chips by sanding and refinishing the affected areas.

Understanding Natural Movement

Timber is a natural material, and a solid wood door will expand and contract slightly with the seasons. This is completely normal and part of the character of a real wood door.

‍

One common sign of this is a fine crack appearing in the face of a panel, following the grain of the timber or down a seam, with the bare wood showing through the paint. These small splits (sometimes called "checks") open as the timber dries and are not a sign of the door failing. They are, however, worth attending to before winter so moisture can't collect in the open crack.

‍

To repair:

.

• Gently rake out any loose paint or debris from the crack and make sure the timber is completely dry.
• Work a flexible, paintable exterior-grade wood filler into the split, pressing it right in and slightly overfilling. Use a flexible filler rather than a rigid one, so it moves with the timber instead of cracking again.
• Once cured, sand flush, spot-prime, and repaint the affected area to match.

‍

Cracks like this are most common in the first year or two after installation, as a new door settles into its environment. Once it has, movement becomes far less noticeable, and with regular finishing your door will stay looking its best for decades.

‍

‍