Building Tips: Preventing a warped door.

Warped doors are most common during seasonal changes, when there is a rapid change in temperature and humidity (specifically winter months).  Warp in most cases is not affiliated to a manufacturing defect; it is simply a product reacting to changing environmental conditions.

In more specific terms “moisture imbalance” is the main cause of warp.  This is when the atmosphere on the two sides is different.  The stresses on one side of the door are not balanced in direction to the other side.  If there is an increase of moisture content on one face but not the other, the side with the higher moisture content will tend to elongate and cause the door to bow.  Newly- installed doors should be left open until plaster and cement are fully cured.  It’s very important to seal all six sides as soon as possible and seal only if the door is straight.  When the door is straight the moisture is balanced inside the door.  Don’t seal warped doors, this will not allow the imbalance to correct itself.

In most cases a warped door will straighten out after it has acclimated to its surroundings.  We recommend the door be allowed to hang through at least a heating and cooling season to allow it to straighten out.  A replacement door installed in the same environment may experience the same problem.  Again, the door must be sealed all six sides to prevent the moisture penetration into the product, which can cause warp.

In order to minimize the possibility of warp doors, we recommend the following.

1. Doors should be stored in a dry area, do not store in areas such as newly poured concrete or recently dry walled or plastered rooms.
2. Doors need to be allowed to acclimate to their surroundings.  Allow adequate circulation but do not expose to direct sources of heat or cold.
3. Doors must be sealed six sides or all warranties are void.   This means that the top and bottom of the doors must be coated the same as the stiles and faces of the door.  “Dust coating” or overspray is not adequate to properly seal the product.  Primed doors such as molded panels must also be painted on top and bottom as well, the prime coat is not an adequate sealer.

All possible steps are taken at the manufacturing facility to minimize the possibility of warp occurring.  In addition, following the aforementioned steps should prevent any chance for a warped door.

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