Want to Fix Swollen Wooden Doors? Here Is How It Can Be Done

Wooden doors bring a magical touch of novelty with them. With spell binding designs and craft, they lend a classy look to the entire building. However, when they swell and become hard to close, they become more sort of things of frustration than that of beauty. It seems as if these doors are unmanageable and hence replaceable. Isn’t there a solution to bring back the swollen doors to their normal shape? Indeed there are several ways to prevent and also fix the misshapened doors to keep the entry safe and make it look elegant all the times.

Why wooden doors swell?

Swollen doors are primarily caused by moisture in the atmosphere. During rainy seasons, due to excessive moisture in the environment, the wooden cells absorb humidity and become bigger in size causing the door to swell. Frequent and rapid change in temperature also can cause swelling in the wooden doors, particularly the ones placed in the western and southern areas as they are more exposed to the sun. That apart, certain carpentry faux-pas such as not using good quality materials, not applying enough polish, not making sure doors are not misaligned, keeping hanging or loose hinges of the door unattended, etc are also responsible for door swelling.

Ways to Fix Wooden Doors

Air Drying:

Removing moisture from the wooden material can help the doors regain their original shape. Get hold of any gadget like hair dryer, heat gun or a rotating fan and move it along the surface of the door by holding it at least 30 cm away from the surface, till the door loses all the moisture.

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Tightening the screws and nuts:

With usage, wooden doors tend to loosen because of loosening screws and metal frames. This particularly happens after the doors begin to swell. Tightening the metal works will ensure the doors do not slacken off towards the frame. It can be done along with air drying.

Polishing the door sides:  

At times, air-drying may not help in removing all the moisture from the door. So, it is advisable to use a sand paper and polish off the edges. It will help remove the excessive parts from localized areas from where moisture couldn’t be removed.

Sun Drying:

In the extreme cases, removing the door and sun-drying it is more beneficial than using air drying techniques. Remove the door off the hinges, put it in sun for a couple days or until it loses its moisture. Just make sure the weather is sunny and humidity is within the normal range.

Applying Sealer:

Cracks in the door are sure sign for possible swelling. So, closing them off with appropriate sealants is absolutely necessary for them not to let humidity enter the doors. Ensure to put an extra layer of the sealer on edges of the door including the vertices and underside of the door.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

Doors make an important and strategic part of the home. So it might cause owner unwanted inconvenience, even if it is neglected for a while. It can be theft or pest invasion. So, it is always wise to think about preventive measures than repenting after the damage is done. The first very best preventive measure is not allowing humidity invade the doors. Installing a good de-humidifier will do the job perfectly. Next, care should be taken that door is fitted with appropriate anti-swelling mechanisms such as leaving gap around the edges, fitting a foam rubber seal and weather-proofing seal etc.

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