As of Sept 14th, everyone entering our retail stores in Victoria and Nanaimo will be required to wear a face mask. BLOG Go Ahead, Pick A Door. Here’s How. Doors can be made of a lot of different materials, and in any style. Aside from differences in price, how do you pick what your door should be made from? Here’s the most important thing to remember: you should choose your door based on where it is, and how it will be used. It’s All About Exposure Doors have been made of wood since…there have been doors. And for good reason: wood is widely available, relatively easy to work, and if properly designed, installed and maintained, can last hundreds of years. But wood needs protection from sun and rain or it can warp, crack, or have its joints fail. Especially with a clear finish, direct exposure to sunlight will cause the wood under the finish to deteriorate, and the finish will fail prematurely. On the other hand, a wooden door with an overhang to protect it, not on the sunniest side of your home, and with a properly maintained finish, should last as long as you own your home. Mind the Sun Wood isn’t the only material affected by the sun. Fiberglass and steel doors, especially if heated by direct sunlight, have been known to warp. This is particularly true if they are dark-coloured: dark paints absorb a lot more heat. So a fiberglass or steel door in a dark colour is probably not the right choice for any exterior doors facing south or west. Wear and Repair One reason wood doors remain popular is that although they may show wear in high-traffic locations, they are the easiest material to repair. A quality wooden door can be touched up and refinished for years before they might need replacing. Steel doors, on the other hand, may seem more durable, but they tend to show more wear and tear in a busy doorway and can be more difficult to restore. Show Them the Door In a lot of homes, most people don’t use their front door very much: they go in and out through the garage or carport or basement. That’s good news, because a front door that doesn’t get heavy use can be made of anything you like the look of: its main job is to look great. One thing to be aware of, though, is the trend is towards ever-larger front doors. That means the hole in your house is bigger, too, and the bigger the hole, the harder it is to keep sealed against water and cold drafts. Proper product selection and installation is much more important with bigger doors. Get a Pro If you’ve never installed a door, it can look pretty simple. But there’s more to doors than you’d think. For example, you may need to use longer screws in the hinges to be sure they reach into the framing – especially on the top hinge, which takes more of the weight. And door frames need to be properly shimmed, especially near the dead bolt, to be truly secure. Door installation is a specialty, so it’s worth considering getting help from a specialist. A door company installer will make sure your investment performs properly from the very first day through many years of trouble-free service. The Best Door of All With over 30 years supplying interior moulding trim, custom millwork and flooring, it should be no surprise that we’re your best source for doors, too. We have a large selection, and most of our doors are made here on the Island and in Canada. And as a trim and full-service millwork shop, we can supply or make any trim or custom jambs you may need in any style, in non-stock sizes and materials. We can also provide professional installation services, including on-site painting. Call us – or just walk in our door – and let us take care of your doors. Showroom Locations Nanaimo 4128 Mostar Road Nanaimo, BC V9T 6C9 (250) 756-1231 Mon – Fri: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Saturday: Closed Sunday: Closed Victoria 780 Topaz Avenue Victoria, BC V8T 2M1 (250) 384-3003 Mon – Fri: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Saturday: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm Sunday: Closed Millworks Location Victoria 486 Cecelia Road Victoria, BC V8T 4T5 (250) 384-3013 Mon – Fri: 7:30 am - 4:30 pm Saturday: Closed Sunday: Closed About Installation Blog Locations Careers Privacy Policy Visit our Facebook page. Visit our Instagram page. Start Right. Finish Better. ©2021 The Finishing Store