Best Ways To Prevent Doors From Warping

Solid wood doors are beautiful, but they are susceptible to breakage in certain situations. Temperature fluctuations and moisture content cause wood to shrink and expand, leading to bends, splitting, and deformation. If your door is exposed to the elements of changing temperatures or dampness, and you don’t want to spend a fortune to repair it, here’s how to prevent doors from warping.

Right Materials

Many materials will not warp when subjected to fluctuations in temperature. A typical door can be built so that the warping impact is tackled by the way it is crafted. Vertical rails on a door can be formed from two distinct pieces of wood bonded together with grain running in opposite directions. When moisture seeps inside the door, it bows in differing directions, offsetting the warping influence.

Seal the Wood

Apply a layer of polyurethane or Varathane sealer to the entire door, including all corners. Allow time for the paint to dry according to the drying time as stated on the product packaging. Apply a second coat when the first has dried fully, then repeat for a third coat.

Be certain that you have coated the hinge regions, the top, and the bottom of the door with each layer you put. If you want to repaint the door, wait until the sealant has completely dry before doing so. Painting when the sealant has not cured completely will only destroy your applications.

Limit Moisture

Surplus moisture may harm your furnishings since mold and microorganisms flourish in humid conditions, so the less of it you have, the better it will be for you. It’s a major contributor to door warping in this context.

You may also minimize the dampness in your house by adopting small but significant adjustments. Letting some fresh air in when it’s cooler outside, putting on revolving ceiling fans, or adding an exhaust vent in the restroom are just a few examples. Another approach is to decorate your home with moisture-loving plants such as palms and Boston ferns.

Varnish or Door Oil

Lastly, a high-quality finishing, such as varnish or door oil, is an ideal method to keep your doors from warping. They make basic yet effective methods to secure your doors. An oil will feed and nurture the wood from inside the grain, allowing it to withstand dampness. A varnish, on the other hand, will protect the wood and make it impermeable.

Whatever treatments you choose, it’s always a good idea to start with a solid, dependable brush applicator. Before you start coating, give your treatment product a thorough swirl to ensure even distribution. Brush with lengthy strokes, working up the wood grain and dabbing off any overflow.

A rise in heat, humidity, or dampness levels causes warping, and more so for solid wooden doors. The degree of contraction and distortion will differ from one piece of wood to the next. When damp wood begins to dry out in the spring and summer months, warping on external doors becomes more visible. Thankfully, there are measures you can take for your doors to weather the seasons as you’ve seen in this article.