how often do Wickes oak internal doors need treating?

longwalks1

We've been looking at these doors to replace our internal ones that are in various states of disrepair:
Wickes Geneva Oak Cottage Internal Door - 1981mm | Wickes.co.uk
But it says they come unfinished, and need treating with something like Ronseal Trade Polyurethane Varnish or Osmo door oil.  How often would they need treating or is it a one off thing?

jennifernil

Our doors are not oak, we have mahogany, but we used Ronseal Satin Varnish on them when we moved in some 32 years ago, and they have never needed anything more.
I would say that if you finish them properly when they are new, and do not abuse them, it is going to be many years before they might need any further treatment.

Grenage

Unlike a work surface or chopping board, doors aren't generally subject to much wear.  You may never need to touch them again.

Davesnave

It's a three or four off thing if you use a polyurethane varnish. That's the number of coats, with rubbing down between, to get a really good finish. However, a lot of people will possibly stop at two coats, judging by the surfaces I see on some friends' doors.

Have to confess, mine are at various stages too, but the best are four coats.

neilmcl

I would use the oil as it's easier and fairly quick to do initially and actually gets into the wood whereas a varnish sit's on the surface. Once it's treated initially then you'd only be looking at maintenance after 3 or 4 years.

longwalks1

Thanks everyone.  now got to decide whether to fit new door linings too while we are at it.  9 doors in total to do, and the current liners are sporting several old coats of white paint/gloss. 
Weighing up fitting new liners or sanding down the old ones. (all door architraves are already off, ready for plastering)

longwalks1

neilmcl said:

I would use the oil as it's easier and fairly quick to do initially and actually gets into the wood whereas a varnish sit's on the surface. Once it's treated initially then you'd only be looking at maintenance after 3 or 4 years.

Thanks neilmcl, we used tung oil on a eucalyptus garden bench last summer and it came out great, so guessing similar process to that