Protect Your Sliding Doors from Sun DamageProtecting your wood-framed sliding doors from sun damage takes a little effort but makes a big difference in the appearance of the doors.

In California, it’s common to see wood sliders that are just a couple of years old faded, dried or cracked on the side facing the outdoors while  remaining beautiful on the indoors side. Protecting sliding doors isn’t just a cosmetic step. Moisture can seep into cracks in the wood and ruin a door in short order.

A-1 On Track has some suggestions to keeping your sliding doors looking great, inside and outside:

  • Immediately after the doors have been installed, apply a varnish that guards against the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Marine varnishes offer good protection and are available at most hardware or home improvement stores.
  • Avoid applying stain or paint in the sun. Do it on cloudy days, before sunrise or after sunset.
  • Don’t allow anything that contains a solvent to come in contact with weatherstripping. Solvents cause weatherstripping to become brittle and lose insulating qualities.
  • If your doors are already damaged, you’ll have to strip the existing varnish and stain, lightly sand the doors and coat them, using a paintbrush, with new stain and varnish. Choose the sandpaper grit based on the extent of the damage. Doors can be sanded by hand, but the job goes much faster with an electric sander. You may elect not to re-stain the doors if you prefer the look of natural wood.
  • The sun can damage or fade even interior doors. In addition to applying varnishes resistant to ultraviolet rays, you may want to consider hanging curtains above the doors. Close the curtain when interior sun is strongest during the day.
  • Inspect the condition of your sliding doors every year. You can save yourself a lot of work by simply applying a new coat of varnish periodically.

Call A-1 On Track for sliding door installation, maintenance or repair. Call 408-866-0267 to schedule a service call.