You may have noticed that sometimes doors just don’t keep to their original shape. When they’re new and freshly installed they are upright and straight, but over time they can bow and warp.
Chances are that if your door is exposed to the elements and gets wet, then at some point it will lose its shape.
Warping – A Common Problem
Warping is unique to solid wooden doors and stems from a rise in humidity, heat or damp levels and moisture entering your doors. The amount of shrinkage and warping will vary from timber to timber.
Warping on external doors tends to be more noticeable in the spring and summer months when wood, which has been wet, starts to dry out.Taller doors are more prone to warping than shorter doors. The good news is that there are things you can do to protect your doors so that they’re more resilient.
Protect With A Good Sealant
The best way to combat the problem is to take preventative measures when you install a door. Let the door get used to its new environment by placing it in the room for 48 hours, so it can adjust to the moisture content in that room. Ensure you apply several coats of sealant to your door, at least two coats and keep the door flat during this process.
The sealant must be applied to all six sides of the door, not just the main faces, pay special attention around the top and bottom as that’s the area which easily soaks up moisture.
A Door With A Minor Warp
If you notice early on that one of your doors is starting to lose its shape, then you can easily rectify it yourself. Carefully remove the door from its hinges and if the door is painted, remove any paint using a heat gun if necessary.
Smooth and fill any cracks, and take off the coating or varnish, paying attention to the bottom and top of the door. The whole door will need at least two coats of sealant and this includes the hinge areas. If you decide to paint, then wait until the sealant is dry to do this task.
When you hang the door, don’t forget to seal the door frame as well. If you seal the door and not the frame, and the frame expands you’ll have a door which sticks.
A Door With A Bad Warp
If the warp is bad, then try lying the door on a pair of saw horses or similar and weigh it down with some heavy towels or blankets. This is a good old fashioned, but effective approach.
You may need to leave the door for several days until you notice it’s correcting itself. Using wet towels can sometimes be more effective than dry ones. If the warp is very extreme, you can add weights as well. When it’s straight, let it dry and ensure that you follow the steps above to seal it effectively.
Wood is a natural material made to last. Here at Door Stop we can give you practical tips and advice to protect your wooden doors. Why not visit our showrooms in Osborne Park and Joondalup to see our wide range of doors for yourself?
