Keeping Doors Dry

Without any preventive maintenance, a new wood door will experience binding overtime. There are several causes for a binding door which include paint build-up, loose lower and upper hinges, and seasonal expansion. During seasonal expansion, the bottom and top edges of the door will absorb moisture and eventually swell.

Sealing the bottom and top edges with polyurethane or paint can prevent your door from binding. Coating the edges will prevent the wood grain from absorbing moisture in humid weather and swelling or even warping. This preventative technique can be performed on both exterior and interior wood doors, and also for existing doors that have been cut to clear a carpet.

Because of the fact that the doors bottom and top edges are not visibly seen, you don’t need to use an expensive brush when applying your coats. In fact, a cheap bristle or foam brush will work just fine. However, you do need to make sure to apply two coats. After the first coat is dry, you should sand the surface lightly with fine-grit sandpaper or steel wool to smooth the surface before putting on the second coat.

In addition, if you failed to coat your doors and you are now noticing that your door is binding from seasonal expansion, there is still something that can be done about it. The door must be carefully removed from the frame, planed and reinstalled. It is recommended that you plane your binding door during the peak of the humid season. This way you will know that your wood door has fully expanded.

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