How to Oil an External Oak Door

See How to Oil an External Oak Door in PDF format

Our solid oak external doors are handcrafted with care to ensure stability and warp resistance, but to ensure they last you a lifetime they must be correctly treated and cared for. The effects of harsh weather conditions like wind, rain and snow can all contribute to rot and damage. Because Oak is a natural product, we do not recommend the doors are directly exposed to the elements, ideally the door will be enclosed within a porch or under a canopy. To further ensure they last for as long as possible, you must treat them before fitting them, and then clean and re-treat them every two or three years. Here is our guide to correctly treating your external oak doors.

You Will Need…

• Sanding pads 150 grit – 250 grit
• Safety Goggles & Safety Mask
• Latex or Safety Gloves
• Micro Fiber Cloth or Tack Cloth
• Varnish Paint Brush or Lint Free Cloths
• External Treatment Oil (We recommend Osmo or Impranol)
• Masking Tape – For Glazed doors and Door Knobs
• Dust Sheets

Treating an External oak door

1. Ensure your working area is well ventilated before and after treatment.
2. Mask off any glazing or door furniture with your masking tape
3. Our doors are pre-sanded but you may need to buff over any uneven areas once you have cut into the wood for the hinges and handles etc.
4. Wipe away dust with a micro fiber cloth, use a damp lint free cloth to wipe away any remaining sawdust.
5. Ensure the wood you are about to treat is clean, dry and free from damp or moisture.
6. We recommend using either Impranol External Treatment or Osmo UV Protection Oil to treat your wood.
7. Stir the oil well before use and using a flat brush, the product should be applied evenly following the direction of the fibres.
8. The product should not be applied at temperatures less than 5 degrees Celsius or in blazing sun.
9. Under normal weather conditions the finish will be dry to the touch after approximately 12 hours and able to be over painted after approximately 1 day.
10. Please read the oil manufacturers Instructions regarding how many coats to apply, they normally recommend between 2 - 4 coats.
11. Be sure to seal inside lock and letter box cut outs, behind hinges, both the top edge and bottom edge underneath the door, and door sides to prevent moisture entering the timber.
12. Both sides of the door should be done at the same time to ensure correct moisture content is maintained throughout the entire thickness of the door.
13. You may need to lightly rub any uneven areas with wire wool once the first or second coat is dry.
14. Depending on the level of weathering; apply 1 coat of treatment Oil after approx. 2 – 4 years on the cleaned and damp free door surface.

What oil should I use?

After many years of testing various brands and products, we can highly reccomend both Impranol and Osmo oils. Impranol needs to be applied in two stages; Stage one is the colour base coat this needs approx 8 hours drying time and 12 hours  before you can apply the second coat. Stage two is the elan top coat, being highly translucent it enhances the natural grain of the wood. Availble to purchase seperately or as part of a value pack. Osmo Oak UV Protection Oil should be applied in two coats, allowing 12 hours drying time inbetween coats. We do not recommend using: Water based, be it a varnish or paint, Natural oil (eg. Teak oil, Linseed oil, Danish oil, Vegetable oil, Soya Bean oil etc.) Wax and Varnish, as we do not consider these to give adequate protection against the elements and harmful UV rays . The safety bit: Ensure adequate ventilation of work area. Do not breathe spray mist. Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Wear goggles and mask when spraying or in insufficiently ventilated areas.Cover light swiches, sockets and electric cables to avoid short-circuiting. Avoid naked flame. Do not spray plants. Wash face and hands thoroughly before eating and after work. When using, do not eat, drink or smoke. Keep out of reach of children and away from animals, keep away from food, drink and animal feeding stuffs. Do not pour into household receptacles for food or beverages. Can be irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin. Can be stored for at least 2 years. Re-seal opened containers tightly after use. Keep only in the original container, to be handled by competent persons. Oak Door storage and care: For more information on how to store your oak door once it arrives, click here to see our blog post on oak door care. Our External Doors: Are made from 100% solid oak, handcrafted with care using the right blend of modern and traditional techniques.  Click here to see our entire range of quality external doors.