Doors are crafted from wood, and although wood is a surprisingly durable material that we have all come to know and love, it is not completely impervious to damage and change.
Certain elements will affect wood more than others, and because wood is what your door will be made of, proper care is needed to ensure that it does not crack, warp, or otherwise change over time and require you to get a new door.
Different woods will react in different ways to levels of heat, moisture, cold, and so forth.
Many people think that putting a finish as well as paint on a door will stop the process of moisture exchange between the wood and the environment.
Finishes and paints will slow this process, but it is impossible to stop.
This is especially true if the environment has drastic changes, such as living in some southern locations where summers are very hot and humid, or in the southwest where temperatures can be very chilly at night and very hot and arid during the day.
When wood absorbs moisture, it will expand, and when it loses moisture, it contracts.
This can eventually lead to cracking and warping, making it difficult to open your door, or leave gaps between the door and the jamb.
So what can you do to protect against such problems? Start with a high quality manufacturer of wood doors.
They will see to it that their products have appropriate levels of moisture before they are shipped to you, and that they are safely packaged during shipping to help keep those levels from changing.
Finishes and paints can help slow the gain or loss of moisture and can last for years.
If you intend on installing an interior door, you can help the wood by keeping the temperature in your home at a relatively stable degree.
If the door will be an exterior door, you can help protect it by making sure a storm door is installed.
This way your wood door will be safer from the elements such as wind, rain, snow, and direct sunlight.
Remember, if you do order an unfinished door from the factory, make sure to seal it within 14 days to help keep it at the right levels for as long as possible.
With the right attention and care, your door can look its best for many years to come, no matter what the weather or temperature.