I installed a new Feather River door about 2 years ago. It’s a fiberglass, prefinished door. When I removed the old steel door (and jamb), I noticed that there were no jack studs supporting the header (~34″ wide). It was toe nailed in. I added some Simpsons’ mending plates to further strengthen the support. I didn’t know about the header hangers at the time and there was not enough room to add any jack studs.
Additional details:
- Door faces sunny side of house
- Popping/creaking sounds are much more prevalent during summer months than winter months
- Old steel door made some similar sounds but nowhere near the prevalence as with the fiberglass door
- House was built in late 60’s – original framing. Vinyl siding on front of house (with old wood shingles underneath)
Questions:
- Do fiberglass doors exhibit this type of creaking (the door can get quite hot in the sun). The steel door used to get too hot to touch.
- There are no cracks in the drywall or joints…just curious if the lack of a jack stud is a concern. I assume if the header was giving way, I would see some cracks in the drywall or bowing of the door jamb (which there is none).
Any idea what else these loud random pops could be? It could be coincidence and it’s not the door but that’s what I’m leaning towards.
Replies
I should add that the door opens and shuts smoothly with no creaks and the reveal is nice and even. At a total loss here.
Storm door?
Anything you did different when you installed this new one? Foamed in the new jamb? Different trim? Any glass in either?
The lack of jack studs is not likely to be the cause of the noise.
Sunlight on the door itself is probably causing expansion that results in creaking.
FG doors are not solid; they are a sandwich of the outer skins and whatever core material the maker uses. And the FG skins are themselves a composite of FG and plastic, which is subject to expansion/contraction with temperature changes.
If you don't hear much noise on cloudy days or times when the door is not subject to temperature extremes, you can conclude that the noise is from the door itself.
Actually, it's probably fiberglass termites, munching away.
cracking/popping noise
this is caused by expansion and contraction
We see the same in acrylic skylights.
As long as no damage occurs on the door itself you will have to live with it.
Is the door painted in a dark color? If so, steel and fibreglass doors can get VERY hot.
In Calgary people usually have a stormdoor in front of their front doors. In summer we measured 145 dgr between the doors, some had ornamental plastic mouldings on their front doors; they melted like hot spaghetti
If the old trim was wood
and the new is a solid, you call it vinyl, ( could it be pvc?), the expansion possibilities in heat would be much greater. Especially with the foam-keeping the heat from disappating.
Cloudy day make this happen less?
Hi Calvin,
Yes, I'm sorry. The new trim is PVC - not Azek or Koma...I think the brand name is Royal Moulding from Home Depot.
Yes, on cloudy days and cooler days (spring, fall, winter), there is a lot less cracking. On Monday, it was cracking quite a bit (I assumed because it was almost below freezing at night here in NJ and he got up to 59F during the day.)
Hi Calvin,
Yes, I'm sorry. The new trim is PVC - not Azek or Koma...I think the brand name is Royal Moulding from Home Depot.
Yes, on cloudy days and cooler days (spring, fall, winter), there is a lot less cracking. On Monday, it was cracking quite a bit (I assumed because it was almost below freezing at night here in NJ and he got up to 59F during the day.)
Well, if monday the sun was out..........
and the noise increased, then I think you might assume the sun heats up this trapped from movement assembly. Rapid expansion makes the noise. Might be the trim, rather than the door itself. The trim expands and keeps the frame from moving-the door is picking up the heat and expanding, But you see reveal even in the hot sun..............
I re-read the thread. You've got vinyl siding also. Is there room for that to move? Was it nailed off tight, or can it move? Is there space between the end of the siding and I assume J-channel?