How to drill a hook into our wood exterior door without ruining it?

last year

last modified: last year

I want to put wrought-iron wreath hooks into our wooden front doors, but I'm worried about a few things. First, will the wood split? The hooks we got came with little self-tapping screws (photo below), but my husband is planning to drill a pilot hole first. We're concerned that either the screw or the pilot-hole drilling might split the wood. Is this something we should be concerned about? Are there ways to prevent this?

Second, do we need to do something to protect the rest of the door from the hole/screw situation? I'm worried about finding out a year from now that moisture got in around the screw and now the doors are rotting around the hook area. Is that a thing that happens? Is there some precaution we should take to prevent this?

Third, is rust on the wood something we need to be concerned about? The hooks are powder-coated and have good reviews (got them from Amazon here, photo below), but I don't really know if that's sufficient.

Thanks!

Featured Answer

Fori

last year

If you're year-round wreath people, permanently mounting those hooks is certainly worth doing!

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Comments (13)

PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
last year
Don't put permanent hardware into the doors for seasonal decorations. I'd use 3M Command strips/hooks which are made for hanging stuff on a temporary basis. You put up the hooks for Christmas, then when you take them down, they can be removed without damaging the finish of your paint/stain. No holes, either.
Sarah
Original Author
last year
Thanks, @Sabrina Alfin Interiors! We actually want to just have permanent hooks in the door so as to always have a wreath, whether it's a holiday wreath or spring or whatever. Is that an unwise thing to do?
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decoenthusiaste
last year
If your doors have any kind of warranty, mounting permanent hooks will probably void that.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
last year
Do not drill into those doors. use the Command Hooks or use the over the door wreath hangers.

https://www.marthastewart.com/1533064/hang-wreath-without-making-hole-door
acm
last year
Was going to suggest the over-doors myself, but they'd be awkward with the windows...
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last year
You won't damage the doors if you pre-drill.
Sarah thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
jackowskib
last year
I wouldn’t mess with the doors. The wrought iron doesn’t match your door hardware anyway.
kl23
last year
Sarah, you asked if there was any downside to having a wreath up all year long. I think that sounds pretty so don't think I am trying to discourage you. We have birds nesting in our Christmas wreath if we don't take it down soon enough in late winter. That sounds all "awww..." But birds poop. And the poop does nasty things to the door paint. Maybe you can work around that.
kcooz07
last year
I would start with either command hooks or a wreath hanger and see how it works. I personally would be nervous about drilling into the doors. And if the wreaths don't work out for some reason, now you have hooks on your pretty doors.
partim
last year
To my eye, wreaths will detract from your beautiful doors.
Carrie H
last year
We have an over the door hook secured on the inside like this. Our door is metal so not drilled. It’s sturdy and doesn’t move and I’d forgotten how it was attached until I saw your post. This is what I’d use so you don’t drill in your doors, which are lovely.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I use this type and IMO your doors are lovely so do not make wreaths a permanent thing on them I certainly would not drill in to those doors.