{"id":1717,"date":"2014-09-15T16:57:56","date_gmt":"2014-09-15T15:57:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wood-finishes-direct.com\/blog\/?p=1717"},"modified":"2024-03-14T14:12:16","modified_gmt":"2024-03-14T14:12:16","slug":"interior-wooden-doors-top-tips-on-care-and-maintenance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wood-finishes-direct.com\/blog\/interior-wooden-doors-top-tips-on-care-and-maintenance\/","title":{"rendered":"Interior Doors \u2013 Top Tips for wooden door care and maintenance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Interior doors have a lot to contend with from everyday knocks, bumps, scuffs to hand-prints, dirt from passing pets and more. So how do you \n\nkeep wooden interior doors looking great <\/a>when exposed to all this and more throughout the years? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve bought a set of lovely new interior doors, or are thinking about renovating or restoring some old period feature doors, our top tips will help you to get the best out of them so they look wonderful and stay protected for longer.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Antique
Antique Walnut Internal Doors – from simonemarro.it<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Choosing the right door treatment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s amazing just how many interior door types there are. Two, four, six and eight panel, made from Oak, Pine, Walnut or Cherry, to name just a few. Door construction can also vary from solid wood to veneered or engineered. Internal doors can also be finished or unfinished. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are Door Finishes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A door finish is the treatment that protects wooden doors from day to day wear and other hazards associated with busy environments. Interior doors are usually finished with an oil, varnish, wax or paint. The choice of door finish usually comes down to the desired appearance: clear, semi translucent or opaque, the sheen level, matt, satin or gloss, the amount of protection it offers, ease of maintenance and of course budget. All things considered, making the right choice can be a challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pre-finished interior doors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When buying pre-finished internal doors, you can usually find out which type of finish it has by checking the manufacturer\u2019s literature. If this doesn\u2019t make it clear, ask the seller or even the manufacturer themselves. It\u2019s worth asking if they can supply the name of the finishing product and brand as this may be useful for door cleaning and maintenance. Although interior doors can be waxed, most pre-finished wooden doors are varnished or oiled as these provide the best all-round durability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfinished interior doors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unfinished doors come with a world of possibilities. There are countless options in terms of colour and finish choices. They can be stained to virtually any colour or shade and sealed to a matt, soft satin sheen or gloss finish with a clear or coloured wood wax, door oil or varnish. If you prefer to keep the natural, untreated look of the wood whilst protecting doors from day-to-day dirt and knocks this can be achieved to.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Varnished
Varnished Interior Wooden Doors – from TompkinsConstruction.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Types of Door Finishes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most \u2018clear\u2019 \n\ndoor finishes<\/a> tend to enhance the natural character and grain of the wood by slightly darkening the timber to give it an almost \u2018damp like\u2019 appearance. Wood oils tend to darken and enhance the wood the most followed by clear varnishes then clear waxes. It is recommended to always do a test area before finishing any door to assess product suitability and final finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\nVarnishes for interior doors<\/a> probably offer the best all-round protection. Whilst most ready-to-use varnishes are ideal for homes and other domestic properties, 2-pack or 2-part varnishes offer better durability for commercial environments such as shops, flats, community halls and other doors that are subject to a high degree of contact and use. The disadvantage of varnishes is that should they become worn, chipped or badly scratched, the only real option is to sand doors back to bare wood and re-finish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top 3 Wood Varnishes for Interior Doors <\/h3>\n\n\n\n