Doors today come in many shapes, sizes, colours, and of course – materials. Steel, aluminium, fibreglass and uPVC are all familiar players in the field. The type of material you choose for your door will depend on several things, not least budget. As technology has advanced, and the door market has expanded to accommodate a range of customers, wooden doors still remain as popular as ever.
Wooden Doors: Internal or External?
In short timber doors are ideal for both internal and external doors. Unlike uPVC, composite, and aluminium doors, wooden doors are suitable as both internal doors and exterior doors. This is perfect for homes looking to keep their interior design in uniform with their exterior. Wooden exterior doors offer strength and security whilst wooden interior doors offer a high-end feel. Their finish can be altered as you wish, and if maintained correctly, can outlast most other types of door. We’ll discuss the benefits in more detail shortly, but it’s worth noting that teaming internal and external wooden doors can help create a more consistent, integrated appearance throughout the home.
Wooden Doors: Solid or Engineered?
Before we get into the advantages and disadvantages of a wooden door, it’s helpful to explain that there are two main types of timber door available: solid wood and engineered wood. Solid wood doors are made from a single piece of wood or several pieces of the same variety of wood. These are then glued together with particular joints to create a large, sturdy door leaf. Engineered wood has an outer layer and an inner layer. The outer layer (or veneer) is made of a more expensive and attractive piece of wood while the inner layer is formed of a variety of woods to create a solid structure from the centre.
As they use a smaller quantity of high quality woods, engineered doors tend to be cheaper than solid wood doors – but which door is better? On the outside, the aesthetic is very similar. As an engineered door can be veneered in a variety of woods, it can achieve almost any style for your home. Due to their advanced construction, engineered doors will not warp and can be more thermally efficient than solid wood doors. On the other hand, solid wood doors can be much simpler to repair. For more information read our article on choosing the right door for you.
Benefits of Wooden Exterior and Wooden Interior Doors
One of the biggest benefits of a wooden front door is how great it looks. Its traditional style can provide much more curb appeal to your home than other materials. As a natural and extremely versatile building material, wooden doors come in a far wider range of designs than their uPVC, fibreglass or metal counterparts. The craftsmanship is clearly visible, which adds to the overall appeal. This appeal goes beyond looks. Wooden doors bring about a traditional feel to your home and are an excellent alternative to incite a sense of homeliness Their versatility means they can be tailored (in size, style of wood, and design) specifically to your home and aesthetic. As no two pieces of wood are exactly the same, your wooden front door will be completely unique to you.
Benefits of Timber Doors
The benefits of timber doors mean that whether you prefer light wood, dark wood, painted surfaces, tight grain, wide grain, simplicity or intricate design work, anything is possible. One of the key benefits of wooden doors is external security. Wooden doors are incredibly strong, and developments in their design and construction over their hundreds of years of manufacture mean they can outlast some of their counterparts. They are one of the few door materials that can be repaired, as wood is malleable and easy to work with. This means a wooden door will offer you great security and reliability over its long life.
All of these things are important, but a wooden door benefits you in another way as well. Wood retains fantastic insulation properties, and with minimal maintenance, can improve your home’s thermal efficiency. The properties of the material mean that warmth is kept in, and noise is kept out more so than with most other types of door. As long as the wood comes from a sustainable source, it’s environmentally friendly, too.
Disadvantages of Wooden Doors
There’s no doubt that the advantages greatly outweigh the disadvantages of wooden doors. this doesn’t mean that wooden doors come without their flaws, however. The primary disadvantage of timber doors is their cost. They sit at the luxury end of the market, and as such command a higher price than doors made from cheaper materials. However, a hardwood door will need to be replaced less often, meaning you should end up spending less in the long term. With a renewed focus on quality, efficiency, longevity and environmental care, wooden doors tick a lot of boxes when it comes to building a home that is safe, sensible, and on-trend. Whilst we can’t claim that there are no problems with a wooden door, there certainly aren’t many, and the advantages are plentiful. Start shopping for wooden external doors here, and wooden internal doors here.
How to Clean Wooden Doors?
Regularly Dust Your Wooden Doors
Cobwebs and dust can easily and quickly build up in homes around doorways, and so doors with panels and details that are prone to catching dust. Cleaning doors on a regular basis will prevent grime from building up and necessitating a deeper clean. Our tip is to use a paint brush to tease out any dust from door rails, moldings and hinges that a cloth or feather duster might miss. Here’s our guide to cleaning your doors in easy steps.
Cleaning Equipment Required
To clean wooden doors you will need:
- Non-abrasive cleaning cloths (such as microfibre)
- Paintbrush (for the edges and cracks)
- Warm water
- Dishwashing liquid
- A bowl
- Liquid furniture polish
Cleaning Wooden Doors in Five Easy Steps
- Prepare the doors by using the paintbrush to remove any dust hiding in the edges and corners.
- Grab a bowl of warm water and add a small amount of dishwashing liquid to it. Using a soft cloth and the water wipe the door down gently to get rid of everyday dirt and grime. Remember to also clean the sides
- Give the door a last wipe over with clean water to make sure there is no soapy residue as soap can contain chemicals that will harm the finish of your door if left on for a longer period.
- Door handles attract not just grime but bacteria as they are in daily contact with our hands.Clean the door handles with antibacterial spray or wipe.
- To give your wooden door that sparkling new look, spray some furniture polish on a fresh dry cloth and wipe over the whole area.
Removing Tough Stains From Wooden Doors
There’s no doubt that at some point your doors will be the recipient of some accident or other that will leave you with a different kind of stain to everyday dirt and grime, whether that’s paint from when you’re decorating, or grease from cooking. To remove tough stains from wooden doors use a mineral spirit (such as paint thinner). Put a few drops of the spirit on a cloth and work the stain until it is gone. Wipe down the door afterwards with a clean damp cloth to ensure no chemicals are left that may harm the finish of the door.
How to Remove Dog & Cat Scratches From a Wooden Door
As much as we love our pets, they are responsible for both everyday wear & tear in our homes along with some more serious damage at times! Anxious pets are not often happy to see a closed door and can scratch at a door if not trained to get in and out of a room. Cat and dog flaps are an option in external doors but it is doubtful that you’ll want to fit them to internal doors,especially if you’ve just made an expensive investment in them! Surface scratches to wooden doors can be buffed out with cleaning and polish but deeper scratches will need more work. You will need:
- Fine sandpaper
- Wood filler
- A putty knife
- A soft cloth
- Paint or stain to match the existing finish.
- An old sheet (to protect your floor from dust)
Here are the steps you’ll need to take to get rid of dog scratches on wood doors:
- Make sure your door is clean
- Place the old sheet under the door to gather any sandust and protect your floor.
- Sand down the scratches gently
- Wipe the area you have sanded with a soft cloth to get rid of any remaining dust. You could also use a paint brush.
- With the putty knife take enough wood filler to fill the scratches. Remove any excess and allow the filler to dry.
- Sand the area that has been filled until it is smooth.
- Clean the area again.
- Apply the stain or paint that will match the finish of your wooden door.
- Leave the door open to dry.
