A grand wooden entrance door is usually the one design element every visitor notices first, the grain, the heft, and sometimes ornate carving that instantly signals the character of the home behind it. But that same solid wood is also the part of the house that takes the hardest hit every monsoon, absorbing rain, humidity, and shifting temperatures right at the threshold, day after day. Wood is naturally hygroscopic, meaning it constantly absorbs and releases moisture depending on the surrounding air, which makes it especially reactive during India’s humid monsoon months. A little seasonal attention before and during the rains can be the difference between a door that ages gracefully and one that swells, warps, or worse. Here are five maintenance steps worth prioritising this monsoon.