Doors - maintenance and care

If you finish and maintain your doors they should last for many years. You should check manufacturer's guidelines for any specific instructions regarding individual doors.

Internal door maintenance and care 

Internal doors usually require much less maintenance than external ones, so they should be relatively easy to care for. The materials your new door are made from, and where the door is placed, will affect how much maintenance it will require in the long-term. For example, bathroom doors may need more care as they are used in a more humid environment than most of your other internal doors.

Cleaning

All doors will benefit from occasional dusting or a wipe with a damp cloth. What cleaning products can be used will depend on the material and finish of the door. You should check specifications of individual doors and treatments if you need to clean the door with anything stronger than just water. 

Don't scour, excessively rub, soak, or over-clean the door or you'll remove the treatment layers and can damage the material below. Avoid using any metal tools or sharp objects to remove dirt. If a door has tracks, these should be regularly vacuumed or brushed to remove any debris which might build up. 

Re-applying treatment

If you have had to finish a door yourself, it's likely the finish will need to be reapplied every few years. Natural and engineered wood doors are likely to need more regular treatment than doors made of other materials. Some doors need to be sanded before treatments are reapplied. 

Maintaining door hardware

Moving parts, such as rollers, latches, or hinges, may need to be oiled occasionally, with a light general purpose oil, to keep them moving smoothly and rust-free. Rollers will also benefit from an occasional application of petroleum jelly, or similar lubricant, to protect them and the track.

Metal hardware can rust and may need to be replaced in time. Plastic parts can also deteriorate and may also need to be replaced. If a door stops operating correctly – such as having squeaking moving parts, or leaves that don't open or close properly or sag in their frames – it might be that some of the hardware needs maintenance or adjustment, or it may need to be replaced. 

Check any glazing panels

Check any glass in doors for cracks as this can make the door unsafe. If it does get cracked, it will need to be strengthened or replaced as soon as possible. If the glass is insulated, you should check for any condensation between the panels, which might indicate a problem with the seals.  

External doors maintenance and care

External doors will all require some maintenance, but some will require much more than others. Doors made with natural or engineered woods particularly need the most maintenance, and uPVC and fibreglass doors require the least. You should regularly check external doors as any problems should be fixed immediately.  

Weather stripping and/or draught excluders need to be checked regularly and replaced when necessary. You should also regularly check the door's hardware – exposure to the elements means metal parts can be more prone to rusting and plastic parts more prone to wear. 

Cleaning

All doors will benefit from occasional dusting or a wipe with a damp cloth, and external doors are likely to need cleaning more frequently than internal ones. What cleaning products can be used will depend on the material and finish of the door. You should check specifications of individual doors if you need to clean the door with anything stronger than just water. 

Don't scour, excessively rub, soak, or over-clean the door or you'll remove the treatment's layers. Avoid using any metal tools or sharp objects to remove dirt from doors, and never use a hose or power wash on a door. Doors with tracks should have the tracks regularly vacuumed or brushed to remove any debris which might build up and stop them working.  

Re-applying treatment and seals

uPVC and fibreglass doors don't usually require any finishes to be reapplied as they are waterproof materials. However, most other doors will need re-treating every few years. Moisture, wind, direct sunlight, dirt, and regular use can all cause the finish of a door to deteriorate. Doors made from any type of wood will need to be sanded and have their finishes re-applied regularly. Metal doors usually need to have their finishes re-applied every so often as well. You should also check doors regularly for scratches or other damage.

Maintaining door hardware

Moving parts need to be oiled regularly with a light general purpose oil. Rollers will also benefit from an occasional application of petroleum jelly or a similar lubricant. 

Many metal pieces of hardware can rust and may need to be replaced in time. Also, plastic parts can wear, particularly if exposed to the sun, and may need to be replaced. If a door stops operating correctly it might be that some of the hardware needs maintenance or adjustment.  

Check any glazing panels

If any glass is cracked it will need to be replaced as soon as possible as it will pose a safety and security risk. External glazing should be insulated. You should check for any condensation inside the panels – this might mean the seals need replacing.   

Check weatherstrips and draught excluders

The weatherstrips and draught excluders are an important part of an external door as they prevent leaks and improve the insulation properties of the whole door. They can wear over time so it's important to check them and replace when necessary.