Regardless of the architectural home style, Rogue Valley Door wood door designs look great on any house. And aside from the natural beauty, our wood doors are durable, safe, fully customizable and add real value to your home. But are wood doors right for your home?
Buying a wood front door for your home is a great decision, but one you shouldn’t make lightly. Wood doors are definitely easy to keep up and maintain but there are some things you should know before buying and installing.
Taking care of your new wood entry door is critical to the life and functionality of the door. But if you do it right, your door could easily last as long as the house itself.
Protection from the Elements
The protection of your wood door is a major factor in its maintenance requirements, performance and longevity. To adequately protect your wood door and extend its life, several factors must be considered.
Overhang
This is a must to protect your door from the elements and is required to maintain your warranty. Combine the illustration below with the chart in Climate & Exposure for the minimum requirements to create an overhang that protects your door in all climates and types of exposure.
Climate & Exposure
What direction does my door face, N, S, E, W? A Southern exposure can take a toll on wood exterior doors because they are exposed to sunlight most of the day. Use this handy guide that factors your local climate and the direction your door faces to suggest the right dimensions for your overhang (pictured below).
DIRECTION YOUR DOOR FACES
| Climate | North | South | East | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert | X=1/2Y | Not Recommended | X=1/2Y | Not Recommended |
| Ocean | X=1/2Y | X=Y | X=1/2Y | X=Y |
| Wet | X=Y | X=Y | X=Y | X=Y |
| Mild | X=1/2Y | X=Y | X=1/2Y | X=Y |
Color Choice
Dark colors attract heat. Heat breaks down the doors finish, as well as dries out the wood. A lighter color promotes greater longevity. A dark color will require more maintenance.
Care & Maintenance
Maintaining your wood door is something you will need to do. The more protected your door is, the less maintenance you will be required to perform.
Storm Doors
Storm doors are very popular in various parts of the US and perform important functions. But they are not recommended for wood doors due to heat buildup.