West Australians enjoy sunshine all year round. In the heat of the summer temperatures can rise to 40 degrees and more. But the sun can play havoc on your front door. Just like your body, the exterior of your home can be impacted adversely by UV rays, especially wooden front doors.
We smother ourselves in sunscreen, but how can we protect front doors?
How UV rays damage a door
Expose a door to continuous harsh sunlight and intense heat and it's just a matter of time before the finish breaks down. Ultraviolet light from the sun's rays attacks the timber to make it crack, warp and peel, leaving it looking unsightly and damaging its structure.
Any break or split allows moisture to get in, twisting and bowing wood, allowing mould to grow.
Spar varnish
One of the most popular external varnishes is spar varnish. The term comes from the boating world. Long wooden poles that support the sails are spars. A spar varnish is a finish that is great at withstanding rough conditions at sea and natural weather elements outside your front door.
Spar urethane varnish is a modern form of spar varnish and the preferred choice. It’s better than a standard polyurethane varnish because of its ability to disperse ultraviolet light.
It has a flexibility to preserve the wood, so the timber won't crack or chip due to movement. It typically contains a mixture of four ingredients, resin, oils, UV blockers and solvents.
Paint it
If you’d rather a painted door, use a high-quality exterior paint. Oil-based enamel paint is renowned for being resilient and long-lasting. However, it can be smelly, takes a long time to dry and leave brush marks.
If you want the look and performance of oil-based paint but the ease of water-based paints, investigate water-based hybrids that have properties which behave like oil.
A glossy finish, whether satin, semi-gloss or high-gloss, will ensure the door stands up to dirt and moisture.
Keep in mind whatever finish or coating you use, it will have to be reapplied every few years to continue to protect your door.
Natural green protection
To add further protection to your door, put a canopy or porch above it to block the sun and prevent damage. A front door canopy will sit directly over your door, giving an overhang to shade it from the sun and other elements.
A porch is more enclosed with sides and pillars. A natural, shady landscape around the exterior door in the form of fast-growing trees will offer protection to your door while also enhancing the appearance of your home.
If you are thinking about changing your doors and need further advice - look no further than Door Stop. We supply internal and external doors, slab and pre-hung doors, bi-folds, French doors and quality entrance doors. Our quality external doors are also available with 0% interest options, so why not select a new door and transform your home today?
