It can be tough to choose the right front door and replacement windows for your Sacramento, CA home. So, once you choose a door and have it installed, it makes sense that you would want to take good care of it. Also, your front door makes your home’s first impression, protects your home, and plays a part in your home’s energy efficiency, and therefore deserves proper care and maintenance.

Learn more about how to care for wood, fiberglass, and wrought iron front doors to keep yours beautiful for years to come.

• Wood Front Doors – Wood front doors are naturally beautiful and charming, but they do require a lot of maintenance. They should be sealed before or immediately after being installed to make the maintenance easier, and should be inspected on all six sides every year to catch problems before they become so bad that you need to replace the door. Clean a wood front door by:
• Brushing off all surfaces with a dust brush or dry rag
• Using a wood polish to help stained wood doors glow
• Cleaning glass with a glass cleaner or mixture of vinegar and water
• Wiping the hardware using a cloth, warm water, and a diluted mild soap solution.

Remember that wood doors exposed to harsh sunlight will need to be inspected more often than doors covered by an overhang or porch. Also, wood front doors painted with lighter colors or stains will last longer than those painted or stained with darker colors.

• Fiberglass Front Doors – Fiberglass front doors are very popular as they hold up well even in the face of extreme climates or harsh weather. They don’t warp, crack or rot like wood can and they don’t rust, scratch or corrode like steel. As with all front doors, fiberglass front doors connect with the outside elements and therefore need regular cleanings to help prevent erosion or problems with the finish from overexposure to wind, rain, snow and debris. Use a mild soap mixed with water to clean the door, making sure to also wipe down hardware. Replace weather-stripping and hinges as necessary, and read the manual for your specific fiberglass door for more maintenance details.
• Wrought Iron Front Doors – Wrought iron front doors are iconic in appearance, and evoke an old-world romantic charm. However, wrought iron has very little carbon content and is therefore vulnerable to rusting if the paint is not properly maintained. Don’t worry though, because all you have to do is stay on top of regular maintenance to keep a wrought iron front door beautiful. Perform the following once a month:
• Combine a teaspoon of any vegetable-based soap water
• Wipe the doors from top to bottom with the solution and a low-lint cloth
• Wipe off any residue using a water damp cloth
• Gently dry the door with a second low-lint cloth

Take care to inspect your wrought iron front door for paint chips and scratches to help protect the base metal.

The Window and Door Shop, Inc. is here to help if you want to learn more about Sacramento, CA replacement windows or door maintenance.