For many years the beauty, durability and the strength of oak have made it popular for building furniture. That said, however good oak is, it should not be exempted from maintenance through oiling or waxing. This is because oak is porous and is prone to staining. Sometimes it cracks or dries if it is not kept in good condition. When you maintain furniture made from oak, you’re able to prevent direct sun and fluctuating temperatures or moisture.
Oak doors are incredibly good, strong and hard. However, they should be kept in good condition too. For oak doors to be in exceptional condition always, oiling or waxing is necessary. There are various reasons why you must oil or wax your oak doors. As discussed, oiling or waxing oak doors help in preserving and enhancing the appearance of the doors, but it must also be done so as to help in preventing warping that can occur in damp weather. Warping can also occur when scratches are left untreated. This is a huge problem with oak, and it’s one of the reasons why so many people opt for steel or uPVC. You obviously don’t get the same level of quality or character; however, it’s cheaper and less prone to warping so there are two obvious benefits straight away.
Another reason why you must oil or wax your oak doors is to prevent colour from fading from the exposure to rain, wind or ultraviolet light. For instance, when it rains and water gets into the oak it reacts to tannin content present in the oak and makes it appear to be rather black in colour. If exposed to ultraviolet rays the oak changes to silvery colour with time. Finally, the reason why you must oil or wax your oak doors is to help in prolonging the lifespan of the oak doors. To ensure the sandpaper is first used lightly on the surface of wood before oiling and waxing are done. This is done to allow penetration of oil or wax into the wood and at long last, there will be a finish, which is long lasting.
We don’t want you to be put off buying solid oak doors, however, you do need to understand the risks involved during the installation and the level of maintenance required to keep the doors in good condition. It’s also important to understand that when the doors are installed and finished in a oil, wax or paint, they will last for many years to come, so it’s not like you’ll be oiling them every week or month! It’s all about knowing what you’re buying and taking the necessary steps to ensure they look wonderful all year round, whilst preserving the wood so that they last longer, which means you spend less going forwards. A good quality oak door can last a lifetime, so you can save money in the long run by choosing this natural and highly durable material.