What Is the Best Wood for Door Frames | detail Guide

A door frame is a major part that plays a great role to support the door. It needs to perform well and be durable. A door frame can easily rot, and once it does you have to change it to a new one. 

But things could be so much better if you spend a little more if needed and get a door frame made out of the best wood that does not easily rot.

It can be tough to decide What is the best wood for door frames. The list of finest wood is pretty long and includes:

1. Pine
2. Mahagony
3. Composite
4. Redwood
5. Douglas Fir
6. Oak
7. Cedar

Now let’s explore some reasons why each of these materials can be the best one to last long.  And you will be able to find a perfect wood material for your next door frame. I’ll include their ups and downs so that you can decide well. Let’s Start…

Which Wood is Best for Door Frames – Measuring Through Overall Pros & Cons

In this section, I’ll explore the wood materials that seem ideal to use on the door frame. From their characteristics to their good and bad sides, let’s dig deep and find everything about them.

Pine

Most homeowners have the pine door frame due to its immense popularity in its style and beauty. It’s naturally white or light yellow in the shade. The pine is one of the best wood for interior door frames thanks to its 10 – 15 years of lasting ability. 

Advantages:

• It’s tough, resilient, and shockproof.
• Light in weight. 
• Easy to paint, sand, and adjust. 
• Do not shrink and swell.
• Ideal elasticity and flexibility.

Disadvantages:

• Scratch pretty easily. 
• Not as durable as hardwood.

Mahagony 

Having straight grain with a natural light red-brown shade, a lot of people find mahogany great as a wood. It is known as one of the best wood for outdoor door frames thanks to its resistance to most harsh weather. This survives for around 40 – 50 years with care. 

Advantages:

• Nice wood gain and looks. 
• Resist water, UVR, and snow. 
• Do not rot or face decay. 
• Pretty dense and solid. 
• Compact and reliable.

Disadvantages:

• Bulky in weight. 
• Gets darker eventually.

Composite

It is a mixture of hardwood and softwood materials with thermoplastic resin and wood particles. This kind of wood is resilient and robust to stand for 25 – 30 years. It is naturally dark or chocolate brown in shade.

Advantages:

• Ideal for exterior door frames.
• Do not fade easily. 
• Resist rain and sunlight. 
• Need no extra maintenance. 
• Stainproof and splinter-proof. 

Disadvantages:

• Expensive in price.
• Looks like fake wood with no grain.

Redwood

As a softwood type, this kind of wood is reddish in shade. It usually needs to replace in between 30 or a lifetime based on how you take care.

Advantages:

• Looks elegant and rare. 
• Easy to move around. 
• Good for the outside door frame. 
• Versatile and dependable. 
• Easy to sand, cut, or drill.

Disadvantages:

• Needs a lot of maintenance.
• Loses its natural tone over time.

Douglas Fir 

It’s one of the best door frame options that has rich quality, weatherproof, and rotproof ability. This kind of material will stand for 10 – 15 years with care. It has desert sand or yellow shade. 

Advantages:

• Better strength and stability than pine.
• Safe to use. 
• Do not release smoke if burning.
• Nice grain pattern and design.
• Resist decay and scratches.

Disadvantages:

• Soft and not dense. 
• Hard to find in the store. 

Oak

Anyone who likes their door frame to look a bit more aesthetic and also add overall value to the home can try the oak. Just like pine, a large number of folks go for this due to its light beige shade. It lasts for 50 – 60 years on average.

Advantages:

• Does not wear easily and stays in shape for a long time.
• Great wood for interior wood frames.
• The smell is fine so is the appearance.
• Keep termites and insects away.
• Cost-friendly option.

Disadvantages:

• Not suitable for winter and rainy weather.
• It gets darker if contacting sunlight.

Cedar

With its pale cream and straw shade, it’s a great material to use. This kind of wood lasts for 15 – 20 years if you care properly. 

Advantages:

• Ensure better visual.
• Ideal for any temperature area. 
• Simple to find in the store.
• Low-weighted and strong. 
• No issue with wear and wrap.

Disadvantages: 

• Flammable due to chemical use.
• The color turns gray easily.

Read: How to Upgrade the Door on Budget

Guide To Pick the Most Suitable & Best Wood for Door Frames?

To say if the wood will suit the interior or exterior frame, you have to think of a few characteristics to be able to make a wise choice. Here are the things you need to consider in wood for door frame:

Application

If you are planning to use a door frame inside, then make sure it matches the interior environment. You have to look into sand, drill, strength, and so on to decide if it’s good or not.

However, if it’s about the exterior door frame, then the wood needs to have the quality to use for this purpose.

Let me show you the essential aspects which you’ll need in a wood material to use on the outside frame.

• Ensure it is ideal for any weather (summer, winter, and rain).
• Solid to bear sand, drill, and cut.
• Smooth to apply paint, primer, and stain.

Weight Point

Based on your preference, you can go with bulkier or lighter wood. Keep in mind the lighter one will suit the interior door frame and the heavier one will go with the exterior door frame.

Plus, lightweight wood will crack more quickly than heavier one. At the same time, the heavier wood is hard to carry and install than the lighter one.

Grain Or Non-Grain Texture

If you prefer grain on the wood, then go for the natural wood. Or else, look into the non-grain wood and choose the artificial types.

Price

Fix a budget then pick the wood for your door frame. Bear in mind that the pricier one will serve more than the low-price option.

In case you are on a tight budget, then look for wood that is good while costing less (like Oak).

Read: Can You Change A Front Door Without Changing The Frame

Ending Notes

That’s all you should know about this topic. If you ask me about my opinion on which is the best wood for door frames, I would suggest oak or redwood due to their lasting ability while the price is also pretty reasonable.

An additional tip is to match the door with the door frame to also get the combination right. For example, if you have a redwood door then use redwood for door framing.

Hope this guide helps you to know the right wood for the door frame. Good Luck on Your Choice!