I plan to make a set of entry doors to replace those on our elderly
church. Oak, with raised panels. I've done many such projects in the
past, but never for outside use. There'll surely be some rain
exposure, and the water will enter between the bottom of any panel and
its rail. In time, I'm afraid, rotting should occur. The present
doors have silicone caulking at those joints, and while generally in
bad shape are at least not rotted. I don't like that as a solution,
however, although I suppose with care it might not show. I should, I
suppose, finish all the pieces, including the dadoes as well as the
panels, with the spar varnish I plan to use, before assembly. I've
considered drilling holes from the bottom of the horizontal dadoes to
the ones below, or to the bottom of the door for the lower panels, so
that water would not pool. Any suggestions?