How long can a wooden door last?

The setting I've cooked up for a D&D campaign I'm running features a fair amount of buildings that have been totally abandoned by civilization for hundreds or even a thousand years. Obviously without upkeep, many aspects of such buildings will weather, rot, subside, collapse, etc. Our own history has furnished up with many examples of ruins that are centuries or millennia old, some of which have been reduced to little more than rubble and others which have stood largely intact.

One commonplace feature of adventuring sites in D&D that I can't seem to give up, and that is troubling me in terms of immersion with the premise of exploring ancient ruins, is doors. Doors are great for obscuring danger, controlling players' access to game content, and can become entertaining obstacles. I would like to have doors. But history tells us most doors or coverings of portals have been made from wood, bamboo, reeds, textiles, etc. even in buildings that are constructed from more durable materials like metal and stone.

Which brings me to my question -- how long might a wooden door remain intact under favorable conditions, and how long might a wooden door remain intact in ideal conditions?*

*For the most part my setting is Earth-like in terms of climate and life.

posted about 4 years ago

Dylan B‭

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