An external door does a lot more than most of us realise. It keeps your home warm, secure and looking its best — and whether you’ve chosen an external oak door, a composite front door, or something stylish like an external oak glazed door, a bit of basic care will keep it performing well for years.
Below is a straightforward, no-nonsense guide to looking after your door. Nothing complicated — just the things that actually make a difference.
Caring for Wooden External Doors
Wooden doors, especially solid oak external doors, oak cottage doors (external) and oak back doors, have a charm that never really goes out of style. But wood is a natural material, so it reacts to the weather more than composite or GRP options.
Think About Where the Door Is Installed
If your doorway is exposed to full sun or heavy rain, the door will naturally need a bit more attention. A porch, canopy or even a small overhang can make a huge difference — especially for south and south-west facing entrances, which get the strongest sunlight.
Treating and Protecting Wooden Doors
This part is simple but important.
Before treating your door, take off the hardware (handles, letterplates, hinges — the small things most people forget). Then follow the treatment instructions and don’t skip the number of coats recommended.
Most wooden external doors benefit from being re-treated every 2–3 years.
If you have an external oak glazed door or an oak external door with glass panels, treat the surrounding timber the same way — it helps keep the glazing stable too.
Everyday Cleaning (for All Door Types)
No matter what kind of door you have — a composite external door, GRP composite door, thermal-rated door, or a traditional wooden one — a quick wipe now and again keeps it looking fresh.
-
A soft cloth is usually all you need.
-
Check the manufacturer’s care notes before using soapy water.
-
Avoid pressure washers — even composite doors don’t love them.
This applies just as much to composite doors with sidelights, external oak doors, and thermal front doors.
Keeping Your Door Working Smoothly
Doors move every day, so small checks help prevent bigger issues later.
Tracks & Sliding Parts
If you have a sliding system, or larger entrance setups like grand entry doors, dust and grit can sit in the track and make the door feel heavy or stiff. A quick vacuum or brush clears it out.
Seals and Draught Excluders
Weatherstrips don’t last forever. If yours look flattened, split or loose, replacing them keeps the door energy-efficient — especially on thermal doors and composite external doors designed to reduce heat loss.
Looking After Hardware
Handles, hinges and locks get daily use. A little care goes a long way.
-
Add a drop of lubricant to moving parts once or twice a year.
-
Check screws and hinges aren’t working loose.
-
Replace any hardware that feels worn — especially on older oak doors or busy family homes.
Composite doors, including GRP composite doors, usually have multi-point locks. Keeping these lightly oiled helps everything stay smooth.
Caring for Glass Panels
If your door has glazing — whether it’s an external oak glazed door, a composite door with glass, or something like external oak doors with glass panels — it’s worth checking the glass from time to time.
Cracks should be replaced sooner rather than later. Besides being a security risk, damaged glazing can affect heat retention — particularly on thermal front doors.
Why Composite Doors Need Less Maintenance
If you’ve chosen a composite door from Doorphoria, you’re already winning on the low-maintenance front.
Composite and GRP doors don’t warp, don’t need varnishing and hold their colour incredibly well. Most customers just give them a light clean occasionally — that’s really all they need.
Popular options like composite external doors, GRP composite doors, or composite doors in Oak, Epping or Oldbury styles are perfect if you want great looks without the upkeep of timber.
A Few Final Tips
No matter what type of external door you have, these quick checks help keep things in good shape:
-
Keep thresholds and tracks free from dirt
-
Make sure drainage holes aren’t blocked
-
Re-seal or re-treat wooden doors when needed
-
Keep hinges and locks oiled
-
Check alignment once or twice a year
A little routine care keeps your external oak doors, composite front doors, thermal doors, and everything in between looking great and working as they should.
