If you have wood doors, you may have noticed that they are hard to open and close at certain times of the year. Wood doors tend to expand and swell under extremely humid conditions.
Why Wood Doors Swell
The combination of too much moisture and an inadequate water-repellent finish is the common reason that wood doors swell. Wood is a porous material, meaning moisture can penetrate the material, especially on the bottom edge of the door, when it’s not sufficiently sealed or finished. Doors are fitted exactly to the size of the frame so will become hard to operate when they swell or expand.
Two factors that can contribute to this problem are the placement of the doors and your home’s location. The west side of your home is more exposed to the sun, meaning doors in this area are more prone to compromised finish.
What Can You Do About This Problem?
Keep in mind that, sometimes, repairing doors can harm their integrity, and replacement may be needed. If you’ve been constantly experiencing this problem, consider getting new doors. Spring is a great time to have energy-efficient windows and doors installed.
To avoid this problem, keep your doors away from heat and water sources. It would also help to address humidity problems indoors. Run your exhaust fans, or open windows while taking a shower or cooking. Sometimes, refinishing the door can fix this problem. However, you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions when it comes to reapplying the finish.
If you don’t want to deal with this problem, invest in doors that don’t sag, warp and leak over time. At Renewal by Andersen® of Springfield, we install ProVia® doors, which are made of our Fibrex® frame material and High-Performance™ Low-E® glass to reduce energy loss. We also offer ENERGY STAR® windows in a wide range of styles, colors and finishes. Give us a call at (417) 268-9301, or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.
