Door Repair

Door repair is a maintenance issue that every home owner has to deal with at some point.   Some of the most common reasons that door repair becomes necessary are:

• poor maintenance such as improper caulking and painting
• no storm door to protect it from the elements
• no gutters or rain diverters to keep excess water away
• the door being too close to a patio or deck resulting in excess rain spattering back onto the door
• improper support of the threshold allowing it to rock back and forth as it is stepped on
• improper weather stripping allowing water to infiltrate into the house and damage the sub-floor

Any one or any combination of these conditions can quickly make door repair on your home necessary.  The first indication that your door needs maintenance is usually split or decayed areas on the bottom section of the brick molding often accompanied by splits or decay in the door jamb where it meets the threshold.  A dark color or dampness on the bottom edge of the door is an indication that the threshold or weatherstripping is not sealing properly.

If the damage is found early enough,  a good door repair can be effected without the need to replace the door.  For more extensive damage the door may need to be replaced.  The reason for the damage should first be identified and the door repair should not only take care of the existing problem but prevent or slow down a recurrence of the problem in the future.  Replacing the brick molding with new PVC  brick molding is a good first step to a quality door repair job.  If the jamb is damaged it can be repaired or patched in several ways depending on the severity of the damage.  And of course caulking and painting are paramount in any door repair.

Keeping excess moisture off the door is the most effective way to prevent damage and one of the best ways to achieve this is with a storm door.  Read Storm doors, A good looking investment for your home,  for some insight into why storm doors are such a good idea.  Other ways to help protect your door is with gutters or rain diverters.  Lastly one of the most overlooked reasons that door repair becomes necessary is an improperly supported threshold.  If the threshold rocks back and forth when stepped on it is not supported properly.  This rocking motion causes the caulking between the threshold and jamb to break down, allowing water penetration.  The addition of a treated or vinyl ledger support board under the exterior lip of the threshold will stabilize it and allow the caulking to remain intact.

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Wood’s Home Maintenance Service  provides door repair or door replacement as well as many other maintenance, repair and building services.  Contact us now for a free estimate.