Solid wood doors are one of the longer-lasting doors ever made. However, this does not mean it is without any issues or problems in its lifetime. In this article, we address the common issues encountered in solid wood doors and how to repair them. Read on further and see if you are experiencing one of these common solid wood door problems to find out how to repair them.
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Split or cracked panel
Splitting panels can be because of some factors such as frequent and heavy slamming of a door, or exposure to extreme temperatures that cause it to expand and contract. If you are encountering this, there are two ways to fix it, depending on the finish on your door.
- Painted doors. This one is easier to repair than stained doors because you can simply cover up the fix with paint. Simply get the appropriate wood filler for your door, sand the imperfections out after drying, then cover it with paint.
- Stained doors. Stained or varnished doors are a bit more complex to fix because you can see the wood filler with the stain. For this reason, you should instead attempt to put the split panel back together. Clean the space between the cracks but be careful not to strip off any of the wood. Drill a hole on the edge nearest to the crack, place some wood glue between the two halves and insert a dowel on the hole pushing the two panels together. Sand uneven surfaces and refinish your door.
Loose hinges
If your door doesn’t hang quite evenly or in a straight manner, then its hinges might be loose. Check both the screws on the door and the frame, and tighten them if necessary. If it still doesn’t hold, then remove the screws first. If you plan on doing this without removing your door, remember to prop something underneath the door to keep it straight and steady. Drill 8mm holes into the screw holes once again and insert a dowel with glue. After it dries, cut off the excess dowel and drill pilot holes for a tighter fit for your screws.
Rotten sections
Humidity and other weather elements can cause a door to rot, especially without proper maintenance. It is important to address rot as early as possible to prevent it from spreading to a larger area of your door. You can salvage this by cutting out the rotten sections completely. Dry the exposed wood with a hot air gun, then use a wood hardener and let it be absorbed. Afterwards, use wood filler until you fill the surface, dry it out and sand it down.
Common solid wood door problems are easier to repair than to get a new door of the same quality at a reasonable price. Remember to always check if restoration solutions are available to preserve the heritage and the quality of the solid wood door you have now!
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Pieter Boyce
Wooden Window and Door Specialist
This article was written on behalf of The Wooden Door Company by Pieter Boyce. Pieter has an intense passion for English Architectural history and has been specialising in the conservation of original wooden windows and doors for decades. His exceptional knowledge of timber windows and doors, both listed or non-listed, is attributed to his hands-on approach to learning all aspects of the complete restoration of original features as well as having personally surveyed thousands of items throughout his long tenure as a head surveyor for one of the largest window and door restoration companies in the UK. He now runs a boutique wooden window and door consultancy and fervently champions the retention of original windows and doors. To learn more of Pieter’s services, visit his website at www.boultonboyce.co.uk.