Oak is a beautiful wood with a fantastic grain pattern, charm and elegance and every piece is unique. It is a very reliable material and has been used in the construction of houses for 1000s of years. Oak doors are a perfect choice for both inside and outside. Oak interior doors in recent years has become very popular as an alternative to hardwoods. Most manufacturers use white oak in their doors. A beautiful oak front door will enhance the focal point of any dwelling.
Nowadays doors are made using laminated technologies know as engineered. Some people think that a solid oak door is the best type. The truth is that solid oak doors do not perform very well when exposed to changing environmental conditions. The wood will swell and contract causing the door warp and twist. A warped and twisted door will not fit well and become draughty. Engineered doors fair much better as they are more stable due to the manufacturing process, so do not be put off by a door manufactured in this way. Solid oak doors consume considerable more of the precious oak product than engineered doors. As a result this new technology is environmentally friendly and produces long lasting, stable good quality doors.
Beautiful oak grain
Finishing Oak Doors – Prefinished or Finished On Site
Prefinished Doors
Having your new door supplied prefinished is undoubtedly the best option. When the doors are fitted the job is done and there is no need to worry about what finish needs to be applied and how to do it.
Finish treatments are applied to the oak door in a controlled factory environment and a very high standard is achieved. Any stain colour is available. One of the leading suppliers of wood finishes is Sikkens who have been supplying finish products for wooden doors for over 200 years.
The Sikkens system used by many door makers, consists of a base stain coat of Sikkens Cetol HLS and then finished with two coats of Sikkens Cetol – Filter 7 top coat producing to top quality finish that is hard wearing and will last many years.
Most manufactures will offer a guarantee on the finish.
Finishing On Site
If your budget will not stretch to prefinished door then you can apply the finish yourself. With some good preparation and a bit of work you can achieve good results. This process applies to both oak interior doors and external oak doors
The secret is in the preparation – the more time you spend at this stage the better the results. It’s probably best to hang the door first, then take it off and remove all the fittings – hinges, locks, letter plates etc. Some doors are supplied with a base coat of stain and the final coats to be applied by you on site. If the door has no base coat it is probably best to apply a base coat prior to hanging. This will reduce any marks left during the handing process. But prior to applying the base coat give the door a good sanding and thoroughly remove all dust particles, dirt or grease with white spirit. Any sharp corners should be rounded slightly to give the finish products a chance to adhere. If you are installing a new external door never fit the door then leave it for a few days before applying the finish. It’s vitally important that the door does not become wet or be exposed to moisture before it is sealed.
Applying the finish coats – It is very important to apply the finish to all faces of the door with particular attention to the bottom of the door if it is an external door. You should include the hinge and other ironmongery cut outs. This will totally seal the door and prevent any moisture entering the wood. Apply as many finishing coats as considered necessary to achieve the desired smooth finish. Be sure to always sand between coats to remove protruding grain hairs. A glass like feel is the ideal finish.
Periodically inspect the door for damage to the finish and make repairs as required by applying additional coats of finish. This will ensure longevity.
A few examples of beautiful oak doors
Some other material on doors to consider:
If your budget will not allow you to have oak style doors in your home then a good alternative is white interior doors which are relatively inexpensive and good quality.
Regarding exterior doors try using a composite door which requires no maintenance or painting over the life of the door.