Your front door is the focal point of your home. Everyone looks at it as they approach the house. Proper door maintenance helps give a welcoming feeling to the house and increases curb appeal. Caring for your door increases its lifespan and reduces costs.
Regular door maintenance benefits include:
- Enhanced curb appeal.
- Energy efficiency.
- Extended lifespan.
- Reduced costly repairs.
- Enhanced security.
Keep It Clean
Cleaning your door regularly–inside and outside–prevents it from looking shabby and deteriorating. Make sure to open the door when cleaning to remove dust and grit from the edges and the parts hidden by the weatherstrip.
Clean your door using a soft cloth and mild detergent. Do not use a brush or anything abrasive to avoid damaging the finish. If your door finish has oxidized in the hot sun wash it first with a 50/50 vinegar/water solution to remove the chalky film. TSP also does the job as long as you are not affected by the chemicals.
Lubricating Hardware
Grit and dirt get into the moving parts of door hardware–causing squeaky hinges and sticky handles and locks. Clean the hinges, handle, and lockset with a dry cloth or Swiffer. Then lubricate them with dry silicone spray.
The silicone comes out of the can wet. That is the accelerant that dries and leaves silicone on all surfaces. The accelerant does not stain. Hinges stop squeaking instantly. Spray silicone into the backset while operating the handle and deadbolt. If they don’t loosen up, you may have to remove the hardware and lubricate the interior working parts. Make sure all of the hardware screws are tight to ensure the best operation.
Security
Having your handles and locks operating smoothly increases security. Some electronic locks will not engage if they meet resistance. Hearing the lock mechanism does not mean it is working. Lubricated and well-adjusted doors help the handles and locks to work properly.
Adjust the Door
Doors are heavy and can sag–often because of poor installation. Remove one screw from each jamb leaf of the door hinge and replace it with a three-inch screw that reaches the stud. Tighten the top screw until the reveals around the slab are equal. Adjust the remaining screws as needed.
In case of severe sagging or extra large gaps between the slab and frame, you may have to remove the hinge-side casing and install shims behind the hinges. Install a shim behind the door strike if the jamb is bowed on that side.
Weatherstrip and Door Sweeps
Weatherstrip loses its ability to seal the door over time. It should be replaced every 10 – 15 years. Use vinyl-covered compression weatherstrip if possible. Rubber hardens in cold weather and does not seal or makes the door more difficult to close.
Weatherstrip can usually be cleaned with a damp cloth and a little gentle detergent. Never paint weatherstrip. It absorbs the paint and turns hard and useless.
Sweeps–also called shoes–seal the gap between the door slab and the sill. They are constantly rubbing and wearing down. The screws attaching them to the slab can become loose. Eliminate drafty floors by adjusting or replacing the sweep. Replace rubber-finned sweeps with mohair or polyester pile. The rubber fins tear, become stiff in cold weather and make opening and closing the door more difficult.
Refinishing
Chipped, cracked, or peeling paint allows water and dirt to get to the slab. Wood doors absorb moisture and swell. Steel doors rust. Regardless of the type of door or finish, it should be refinished every one to three years if it is exposed to direct sunlight.
Clean your door and remove all loose paint. Sand the entire door with fine-grit sandpaper. Do not use a scraper, wire brush, or pressure washer. Buy paint or stain that is compatible with your door. Lighter colors do not fade as quickly as dark colors. Consider removing the door and setting it on sawhorses to make the job easier.
Glass Care
Clean your door lights regularly with a soft cloth and glass cleaner. Replace cracked or broken glass as soon as possible for safety and security. Many door lights use caulking to seal them to the frame.
Inspect the exterior caulking to ensure it is still sealing. If not, use a scraper to remove the old caulking from the glass. Some will come off with paint thinner. Some will take a lot of effort to remove. Do not add new caulking on top of the old stuff. It will not stick well. Use exterior window caulking for a long-term seal.
