Timber doors offer a premium look that can add value to your property and really make an impression on visitors. They can be treated and stained to a color that suits your house and blend in with the style of the exterior. The best thing is that unlike aluminum and uPVC, they can be easily repaired if damaged. They also have better insulation qualities, so they will keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

Whether you’re a fan of traditional, contemporary or modern design, timber doors can suit any style of home. They can be fitted as front and back doors, or internal doors and are available in solid or hollow core varieties. Timber interior doors can be a good choice for rooms that are exposed to the weather, as they can provide protection from draughts and cold air. They also look great in recessed entryways and sheltered beneath porches.

Solid timber doors are made to withstand the elements and can last a long time, but they can be prone to damage if they’re not properly maintained. This includes regular repainting and repairing cracks. It’s important to do this to minimize the risk of termite infestation and rot. If you do this regularly, you’ll save yourself a lot of money in the long run.

In order to preserve your timber door, you should use a quality wood preservative and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. You can choose from a wide variety of timber preservatives, and it’s important to choose one that is appropriate for your door’s environment. For example, if you live in an area with high humidity, you should use a water-based wood preservative.

Wood can be quite a porous material, and this means it can absorb moisture. Over time, this can cause it to swell and shrink. As a result, it’s important to keep your timber doors well-insulated so they can retain heat in winter and cool air in summer.

It’s also important to check your timber doors for signs of moisture damage. These include stains, cracks and warping. If you see any of these, then it’s important to repair them as soon as possible. You can repair the wood by using special glues and paints.

Historically, wooden doors were held together with nails. The first type was the plank and batten door, which had a series of external vertical boards joined to three or four horizontal ’battens’ or ‘ledges’. Later, the ledged and braced door came into use, which used the same basic format but without the vertical planks. Both were made from local-felled oak or chestnut.

Early carpenters would have nailed the fillets, planks and battens to each other with hand-wrought nails. These were often shaped with a chamfer, which was probably inspired by the shape of pegs that were used to fix wooden panels in early buildings. This gave the door a decorative touch and was also a practical feature that reduced the number of nails needed to hold the components in place.