A Fresh Look at Wood Doors

Wood doors give your commercial offices a warm feel—they're classic, attractive and set the tone for a professional office. But they also can be hard to maintain and show wear quickly. Are they right for you? Here are some things to consider:

• What's the best door you can afford? "A solid wood door in a commercial project will always hold up much better than a hollow core door," says Nancy P. LeRoy, president and head designer of Special Spaces Ltd. in Camp Hill, Pa. "If it's going to be a heavy-traffic area, spend the money to use solid doors." Can you ever get by with cheaper doors? LeRoy says to think twice. "There might be certain installations where you won't have heavy traffic and you can get away by saying, ‘We can cut corners by installing hollow doors,' but I wouldn't recommend it," she says.

• Understand the wood. A wood door was once a living tree, taking moisture from the earth and carrying it through the branches and leaves. Sap flowed through the porous fibers of the wood. Once the logs are cut, about 60 percent of the water is removed through an air drying process. Then, in a heated-kiln process, the moisture level is reduced to about 8 percent. Sealing and finishing the door will make the difference in a door that will last years or one that will begin showing wear immediately.

• Sealing is the key. By finishing the door properly, you'll avoid moisture re-absorption and further drying, which causes cracking and hairline splits. Chris Hughes, director of national accounts for Tampa, Fla.-based Masonite, the world's largest door manufacturer, says that once doors are properly sealed, there should be no problems. Interior wood doors can retain their natural beauty and last for many years with proper finishing and some maintenance, he says. Regular cleaning, avoiding direct sunlight and applying a new top coat as needed maximizes performance and life.

• Look for problems before hanging. Once the door is delivered, and before fitting and cutting, inspect the door for any defects or damage. Do not hang the door if you notice any. Until the door can be finished, store it away from sunlight. Heat and ultraviolet light can cause gradual wood deterioration. Doors that have been sealed properly probably will not have a problem with this. Also keep it away from heating and air conditioning vents.

• Maintenance is the key. You might consider having a company service your wood doors periodically. "We actually have a company that comes out and inspects our doors each month," says Lynn Butler, property manager at USAA Realty in Irvine, Calif. "They work on a different floor each month." She adds that before the maintenance company sends out a door team each month, the building supervisor does a walk-through, looking for any critical problems. "We've got 13 floors of suites and at least 200 doors," Butler says. "Keeping someone on retainer has been essential for us."