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
- Ensure your working area is well ventilated before and after treatment.
- Mask off any glazing or door furniture with your masking tape
- 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.
- Wipe away dust with a micro fiber cloth, use a damp lint free cloth to wipe away any remaining sawdust.
- Ensure the wood you are about to treat is clean, dry and free from damp or moisture.
- We recommend using either Impranol External Treatment or Osmo UV Protection Oil to treat your wood.
- Stir the oil well before use and using a flat brush, the product should be applied evenly following the direction of the fibres.
- The product should not be applied at temperatures less than 5 degrees Celsius or in blazing sun.
- 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.
- Please read the oil manufacturers Instructions regarding how many coats to apply, they normally recommend between 2 - 4 coats.
- 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.
- 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.
- You may need to lightly rub any uneven areas with wire wool once the first or second coat is dry.
- 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.
