The entrance gate, the entrance to your property and home, we often think of as a necessary accessory to our entrance, a humble continuation of the garden wall or fence and simply an entry and exit point. We forget that they can enhance the visual appeal of a property by adding style and charm. The door is often the first thing visitors see when they visit or pass through your property and its appearance can reflect what lies beyond making a good or bad first impression.
Which gateway should I choose?
The choice of a front door largely depends on the style and intended purpose. A simple wood gate that blends seamlessly with the fence or wall provides a traditional look and feel. Alternatively, a solid wood clad or wrought iron door can offer a higher level of privacy and security for your home.
automated or manual
If you want to go a little further, you may want to consider an automated gate. No more hassles of getting in and out of the car on a rainy day, and the benefit of the door always being locked when the driveway is not in use. Electric gates can be a great addition to your property by deterring unwanted visitors, but make sure they are installed by a professional gate engineer. There are many options to choose from depending on the access and slope of your driveway.
types of doors
Fundamentally, front doors tend to be made of two materials, wood or metal. Metal doors come in a variety of styles and shapes and are made of steel or aluminum. Steel doors traditionally tend to be more ornate in nature, while aluminum doors can provide the look of a traditional wood-panelled door, but at a fraction of the weight and without the hassle of annual maintenance of wood.
Door care and maintenance
Once you’ve invested in the ideal gate for your driveway, now you need to make sure your gate has the best protection to keep it looking like new for as long as possible.
Almost all new wood entry doors are pre-treated to protect the wood from wood rot and insect attack, but these treatments do not provide complete protection from the weather. Weather erosion and UV rays from the sun will degrade the effectiveness of these treatments over time.
If you are looking for a natural look, you may want to top coat any preservative treatment with a clear exterior wood oil or decking oil. These products contain a blend of oils, waxes and resins that penetrate deep into the wood to provide excellent protection against water ingress. Several of these products contain UV filters that help preserve the natural color of the wood for longer, delaying the appearance of weathering.
Paint your front door
If you plan to paint your door, it’s important to make sure any wood preservatives used beforehand are free of wax, oil, and silicone. Most exterior paints are water-based, and any pretreatment that contains wax or oil will prevent the paint from sticking to the wood. Always invest in quality paint, it can save you time and money in the long run.
wood stains
Using an exterior wood stain on your front door is a great way to retain the natural grain of the wood. A light-colored softwood door can be stained and sealed to give it the appearance of teak, mahogany, or walnut.
Why oiled wood doors?
As with any other garden wood such as benches, sheds and fences, it is always a good idea to oil the wood as part of your annual garden maintenance routine. Wood oils penetrate the wood grain to replace natural oils lost over time. This keeps the wood nourished and flexible, which helps prevent or reduce cracking and splitting. Additionally, many exterior wood oils and deck oils contain UV filters that help protect the wood from the bleaching effect of the sun.
An added benefit of using wood oils is that they help prevent water penetration, a common cause of mold and rot in wood.