I have a wooden Stanley exterior door with a window in the top half. It has received a lot of rain over the years because it opens onto a deck below the drip edge of the roof and I never quite got around to putting up gutters. I have them installed now. I took the door off to sand and refinish it and noticed it was warped. Top corner to opposite bottom corner it is off by about half an inch. Is it possible to make the door flat again? Thanks guys, Jim
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Not practically possible. In theory you could lay it on a flat surface and weight all four corners with concrete sacks but it would take many months to change.
Being that warped did you not notice it when hung? Did it actually seal?
Perhaps the frame is set out of whack causing the problem?
You can either adjust the stops to fit the door or the weatherstripping to accommodate the gaps.
Making it flat again is really not a realistic goal.
I refuse to accept that there are limitations to what we can accomplish. Pete Draganic
Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day. Matt Garcia
Thanks for all the input. I have another door, same make same size, same window but mounted interiorly and it is warped the same amount. Could it be that after twenty or so years wooden doors just change shape?
Next question, what are all you guys doing sitting in front of your computers, answering questions when ther is so much work to do out there? Jim
Next question, what are all you guys doing sitting in front of your computers, answering questions when ther is so much work to do out there? Jim
I'm doing my taxes and hating every minute of it... so here I am.
What? You're STILL doing taxes? Why, I finished that yesterday!
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith
Boy... insult the help ;~)
I'd bet the doors were not flat to begin with, but I'm not there.
Cross string the door open and see if the stings touches at the diagonal. Might give a indication. Cross sight the door. Put 2 levels at each end while the door is laying flat and sight down the top at the middle, top to bottom. The levels should be viewed as parallel. One corner higher than the other and the door has a twist.
As for the quick fix, I'd reset the stops and then the hinges if that doesn't work.
Sledge hammer and some long screws may help, but you really need to know what your doing( I really don't recommend this, but it can/has work as a last resort)
I've drilled and lagger the stiles and rails. Sometimes this works if the joints aren't solid
I make so much money that i don't have to work too often.
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I refuse to accept that there are limitations to what we can accomplish. Pete Draganic
Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day. Matt Garcia
sledgehammer has a good point. If it is a good fit when it's hung and you didn't notice any warp or twist then there's no worries.
I would still be concerned about the water though. Even though you installed gutters, a lot of damage will still be done to the bottom of that door by rain splashing up from the porch/deck. When you think you've got it sealed properly, then seal it again.
What do you recommend for sealing an exterior, wood door? I used "Lifeline", from Perma-chink. It held up for years without gutters. I hope for better, or at least as good this time.
If you're happy with the results of the 'Lifeline" by all means keep using it. ANYTHING that holds up for years in a situation such as yours is better than good.