External doors and paintwork are always on exhibit to your visitors and always seen and take the brunt of the weather – the wind, frost and sun all can have a negative effect not only on the look of the paintwork but also on the longevity of external doors and paintwork. So, it is essential that external woodwork should have an effective protective water-repellent coating. Probably the most difficult decision for the householder is whether to use a paint coating, or varnish of some kind or an oil-based coating. All will do the job of protection though they will obviously have different finishes.
If you have quality wood with an attractive colour and grain then it may well be the best to choose a transparent coating-even if a stain is also chosen to enhance the colour. Wood oils are quite durable for external doors and are suitably water tight – though the doors should be re-oiled once or twice a year to keep the effect. There are different paints especially for outdoor use and advice should be taken on correct preparation and priming unless the new door is already primed. It takes very little time and a fine day to paint the external doors though completing other woodwork may well take much longer.
Re-painted external doors can not only prolong the life of the wood, but also transform the look of your house. However, the sun’s rays and rain will remove the surface layer of the paint over time, and once the surface layer is worn, it will need repainting. Depending on exposure to the elements the paintwork may last anytime from 4 to 10 years.