How to Refinish Exterior Wood Doors During the Rainy Season
Nashville, TN is no stranger to rainy days. Now that spring has officially arrived, Nashville residents can expect plenty of wet days throughout the season and into summer. While this region also receives plenty of sunshine, those wet stretches can get in the way of exterior projects, including painting, carpentry, and door refinishing. Fortunately, there are ways to tackle certain outdoor projects despite weather-related woes. If you’re considering refreshing your front door, for instance, you can get it done even if the rain insists on falling for a while – you just need to take a strategic approach. Here’s how to refinish exterior wood doors during the rainy season.
How to Refinish Exterior Wood Doors for the Rain
Move Exterior Doors to an Indoor Location
A general rule, the most efficient way to refinish your door is to first remove it from its hinges. In doing so, you can take the door elsewhere (i.e., indoors), place it on sawhorses, and enjoy greater access to every inch of the door without worrying about getting paint or stain on siding and other nearby surfaces. This approach is even more beneficial on rainy days, since you won’t have to worry about water splashing on your wooden door while you work on it inside. Bringing your door indoors also gives you more control over temperature and humidity, which are key factors in any refinishing process.
Make Sure Your Interior Remains Protected
Removing your door prior to door refinishing is useful, but it comes with a key caveat: without a door in place, your entryway is wide open to the elements, including moisture from rain. If you decide to go this route, make sure you have a plan in place for shielding your interior until you’re able to re-attach your door. Depending on outdoor conditions, it might be fine to simply install a screen of some kind. If it’s chilly or oppressively hot, however, you’ll want to cover this hole with something thicker and more insulated. Ideally, you won’t need to worry about this for too long. In some cases, however, door refinishing can take several days to complete, leaving your home vulnerable for a while.
Consider Installing a Canopy or Awning Above Your Home Entrance
Whether you plan on refinishing your front entry door remotely or in place, it helps to have some overhead cover while you work, especially if rain is imminent. You’re in luck if your home already features an awning, canopy, or partial roof above your exterior door. Otherwise, you might consider installing a temporary awning for the duration of this project. And if you’d like to protect your wooden door from moisture and sunlight for the long haul, think about making this overhead protection a permanent fixture.
When in Doubt, Wait for Drier Days
May is typically the rainiest month in Nashville, Brentwood, and Franklin, TN, but even this month offers some dry weather. So, while it might be challenging to refinish exterior wood doors around this time of year, paying attention to the forecast will help you find the right time to get started. If possible, shoot for a stretch of two or three days with low chances of precipitation – if you can’t catch a break in a given month, you might want to slightly push this project until the time is right.
Rain can really dampen your drive to refinish your exterior wood doors, so to speak. With the right approach, however, you can get the job done with minimal hassle and beautiful results. If you’re not sure how to refinish a door at all, Nash Painting is here to help. To learn more about us, our services, and our values, call us at 615-829-6858 today!