For many homeowners, a wooden entry door is a highly valuable implement in the home. Wood is preferred because of its natural beauty, but it is also preferred because many flaws with wood can be corrected over the years, so you essentially get a door with a really long lifespan for an attractive initial investment price. However, there will always come a time when a wooden entry door will need to be replaced, and it is best if you can recognize the signs so you don't waste your time with door renovation and repairs. Here are a few of the signs that should signal you to start looking at your new door options. 

The wooden door has some spots that are starting to rot. 

Rot on any level on a wooden door is never a good sign. It technically means that the area of the door has grown so porous that it is freely taking in a lot of moisture, and this is not an issue that can be reversed. It is always best to consider a new door installation if you have even the slightest amount of rot. 

You notice the door is not closing and opening as well as it once did. 

Wooden doors are known for one major problem as they get older: warping. Warping and bowing are caused by a collaboration of moisture exposure and changes in the environment, and it really is a problem that is hard to avoid as the door gets older and more porous. If you are having issues with opening and closing the door, this issue could be to blame. 

The door has far too many layers of paint to count. 

You can strip the paint off of a wooden door, but this is not the easiest feat if the door has multiple layers. Not to mention, if the door already has some type of structural issue (like dry rot or a general breakdown of the hard surface), trying to strip the paint off the door can make matters worse.  

You just don't like how the door fits in with the rest of the exterior. 

Sometimes, new door installation is a choice that is more about vanity than anything else, and that is perfectly understandable. If you have a wooden door that is more traditional with an antiquated look and a home that is all about contemporary exterior design, for example, it is a good indication that it is time to get a new door. 

Contact a door installation service near you for more information.