A well-crafted, bespoke external oak door is a beautiful addition to a home, adding curb appeal and heritage aesthetic. However, visual appeal is not the only reason why oak is an in-demand material for external doors.
Oak external doors have many qualities that reach beyond the pretty grain patterns, including:
Strength
Oak is naturally strong, making it an excellent choice for security and heavy use.
Insulation
Hardwoods like oak are excellent for thermal and acoustic insulation, protecting you from both excess noise and the cold outside.
Durability
An oak door is built for longevity. Cared for correctly, an external door can last for decades due to its resistance to wear and tear and the British weather.
How does the growth rate affect the wood?
Oak trees are naturally slow-growing in the UK’s climate. In their first few years of life, they might only grow six inches vertically each year. As they mature, they grow faster over the next 80 years at up to 3ft per year in a good growth season.
Compared to commercial pine forests, this is still very slow, and it takes decades to reach full maturity. The impact of the growth rate is felt in the density of the wood. It has thicker cell walls and more lignin, which can be seen in the growth rings.
The high density of material means the wood is harder and stronger, and therefore more durable, and better for thermal insulation and structural soundness.
There is a good reason why you will still find original oak doors and beams on historical buildings around the UK – they are made of timber that is built to last. Kiln-dried wood can last even longer when used in constructing doors.
How does kiln drying affect the wood?
Kiln-drying further hardens the wood by slowly removing moisture and hardening resin in the grain. Heating the wood prevents potential warping and shrinking, so that your doors will always fit exactly, no matter what the weather.
The high heat of the kiln also kills off any pests or fungus lingering in the wood that may damage the integrity of the structure.
