Your entry door is the first line of defense against burglars and intruders. It’s also your protection against harsh weather conditions. Without a sturdy entry door, intruders could easily gain entrance into your home, and harsh weather condition could easily do damage to your property. For this reason, you need to know how to properly take care of your entry door, especially if you want to prolong its life.
Maintenance Tips for Steel Entry Doors
Steel entry doors are the sturdiest and strongest doors. They are also the least expensive and only require little maintenance. However, they also need proper care. You don’t want mold and mildew to grow on them, and you most definitely don’t want them to go rusty with scratches and dents.
Exposure to sun, wind, and rain can dull the paint. The apparent discoloration can easily decrease the aesthetic appeal of any home. To make sure that steel entry doors maintain its pleasing appearance and original color, what you can do is to use a mild detergent, preferably organic solutions, to clean the surfaces. You can also make use of household ammonia to get rid of dirt and grime. Of note though; don’t use brushes with hard bristles when cleaning steel entry doors. It can easily scratch the surface and cause paint to peel. After washing the surfaces, rinse the solution off with a damp, clean cloth. See to it that you remove all residues, lest they damage the protective film covering the entry door.
Maintenance Tips for Wood Entry Doors
Wood entry doors are more expensive than the steel ones, and they also require the most maintenance. However, wooden entry doors are more aesthetically appealing and complement just about any type of house design.
Wood entry door finish usually lasts for years, but if you live in a region that has severe weather conditions, you can expect the finish to last for only about a year. If you don’t do anything to restore the finish, your door will end up feeling “dry” and looking dull. It will also be more prone to cracks.
To avoid this, what you can do is to restore the finish. All you need is to sand the door lightly and then wipe off any dust with a soft, clean cloth. You can also dampen the cloth with a little mineral spirits. Once done, you can apply about a couple coats of exterior polyurethane that is not only fade resistant but also has an ultraviolet inhibitor property as well. After applying two coats, you need to sand the door lightly again to make it smoother and more vibrant looking.
Maintenance Tips for Moving Parts
Your entry door has moving parts like hinges, and they also need to be cleaned and maintained properly. What you can do is to wipe away dirt and grime using a soft, damp cloth. These are what make these moving parts rusty. Once you’ve cleaned all moving parts, the next step is to apply a layer of lubricant over them. The lubricant will ensure that the moving parts will work smoothly and properly. After this, wipe off any excess lubricant with the cloth.
It really is easy to maintain entry doors, but if you want a more professional job, especially if your door needs repair and replacement, then be sure to get in touch with a trustworthy contractor.
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Jennifer Dee regularly contributes articles to several home improvement blogs. Your entry door needs proper maintenance and care, and if you want a more professional job, you can easily get in touch with your local contractor like Affordable Door Repair.