Sealing an exterior door is important for many reasons. It can prevent water from leaking in when it rains, stop draughts and cut down on noise pollution, as well as helping to keep the door as secure as possible.
The Door & Window Sealing Issue
Unsealed doors and windows allow the leakage of heating and cooling which significantly increases energy costs and reduces the energy efficiency of other design elements of a building.
When you are happy with the stain colour, it's time to apply a top coat to protect the door. Before you apply your top coat ensure you've read the label on your stain – it will tell you the dry time required before top coating. You will want to choose an exterior finish coat, and be sure it contains UV protection.
Sealing all edges of the door as you recommend is the correct way to limit or eliminate swelling in wood doors. Indeed, ALL manufacturers of wood doors require sealing on all edges or they will not honor their warranties.
Sealing your door is crucial for keeping your home comfortable and energy-efficient. Proper sealing prevents drafts that can make your heating and cooling systems work harder. This means lower energy bills and a more pleasant living space.
Applying a topcoat sealer is not required, but a finish protects the stained wood from scratches and keeps it from fading over time.
For superior protection, it's best to use a high-quality polyurethane finish for wood doors. ZAR®'s oil-based polyurethanes provide quality protection for wood while being user-friendly. While each product differs somewhat, the application methods are generally the same.
Polyurethane is a highly durable and moisture-resistant clear finish that's ideal for protecting wood entry doors.
How Do You Waterproof a Wooden Door? If you want a long-lasting, waterproof and weatherproof finish on your wooden external doors, the best way to seal your door is using a varnish or lacquer. This will give the strongest protection, though it might not give the same level of visual appeal as using oil or paint.
Checking For Gaps and Leaks
Once you've located the weather stripping, check for air leaks. The dollar bill test should work well for this. (If you're not American, your local currency should work just as well). Take the dollar bill and place it between the door and jamb where you suspect there may be a leak.
Door seals and exhaust fan seals may seem small, but can they really reduce your energy use and therefore your bills? Simply installing 2 fans and door seals will SAVE you $14/month. That's $168 a year, at current rates. Not to mention the comfort of rooms that are less drafty.
Tip: When you place the weather stripping, the foam should completely fill in the gap at the top of the frame. It should only compress slightly, however, and not too tightly. Tight compression may prevent the door from latching.
Apply 1 to 2 coats of stain when using a brush and 2 to 3 coats if you're spraying the polyurethane.
Semi-gloss finish is easy to clean and resistant to wear and tear, making it a popular choice for interior doors.
Stain offers little to no moisture protection, while sealant offers tremendous moisture protection.
Some woods, if they become too dry, can warp and crack as well. Sealing wood is a good way to prolong the life and wear of your wood for a long time. Sealing your wood isn't necessary, per se, but it does protect your investment.
Coconut Oil: If you're looking for a completely plant-based option, you can use only olive oil as the wood sealant. While it won't create a solid paste like with beeswax, a combination of olive oil and coconut oil can still provide some protection and conditioning to the wood.
For interior door, window and trim projects, acrylic latex caulk is usually a good bet.
Note: Don't paint the top or bottom of a door (the narrow parts that aren't visible when the door is closed). Leave them unpainted so the door can expand and contract with changes in humidity. Second Coat: After the first coat is dry, sand areas, if needed, and then apply the second coat.
One of the most important things to remember about your new doors is that they need to be sealed prior to painting – no matter if they are interior or exterior products. That means your new entryway is only as good as its door seal!