Wooden Doors 

Doors are not only crucial for the safety of your home and business, but they add an important aesthetic element to the space as well. Doors come in a range of shapes, sizes, and materials. There are fiberglass, aluminum, and metal doors, as well as wooden doors. Wood doors and their natural designs and textures are classy, easy to style, and have a timeless element that can be incorporated in many interior design styles. Although there are many reasons to rave about wooden doors, it is essential to consider that they also have their disadvantages. One of the significant disadvantages of wood doors is that they can eventually swell and warp. Continue reading to learn how to handle swollen wooden doors and how you can prevent this from happening again.  

What Causes Wooden Doors to Swell? 

Wooden doors are manufactured with natural wood, which is porous. This makes wood doors susceptible to absorbing moisture, resulting in being warped out of shape as they age and come into contact with water periodically. When wooden doors are exposed to warmer temperatures, they can expand, and when temperatures drop, they will contract, frequently leaving gaps in the door. If a wooden door is not treated and is directly exposed to water, it will become waterlogged and become nearly impossible to return to its original shape. As wooden doors become warped over time, they will eventually become difficult to open and close. The good news here is that this can be prevented and may take many years to happen, especially if the door has been used with caution and care.

Preventing Swelling in Wooden Doors 

The good news is that you can prevent wooden doors from swelling. Prevention is key when keeping your wooden doors safe from swelling and warping. While most new wooden doors are treated with a sealant, you will need to reapply it again in the future. If you have purchased a wooden door to stain and paint yourself, please do not forget to add a wood sealant, even for doors inside your home. Wooden doors should be at least a few feet removed from heat sources, and there should be good ventilation throughout the area.

Fixing a Swollen and Warped Door

If the door only has a few areas that are swollen, you may typically be able to mark the area that is stuck and sand it down to fit again, or you can try to add a hinge in between the other hinges. Oftentimes swelling in wooden doors, unfortunately, is serious and repairs can be very difficult or even nearly impossible to do altogether. In situations such as these, it is best to speak with a professional contractor to repair or replace swollen wooden doors, as attempting to fix it yourself may result in further damages.  

Add a Custom Door Handle to Your New Wooden Door 

If you have recently installed a new wooden door or any door in your home or business, finish it off by adding a unique and custom door handle. At Main Entrance Custom Handles (MECH), our team of experienced designers will work with you to create the door handle of your dreams. MECH offers custom door handles with standard shapes such as round, square, and shield, although we can work with you to create a different design as well. If you have no idea where to start, you can visit our website for more information about our design process. You may also contact us at 1-888-384-2034 to get in touch with our team right away. Let us bring your vision to life and spruce up your new or old door.