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Property/DIY

solid interior doors keep expanding and not closing - aaaaagh!

3 replies

stuckindamiddle · 09/03/2014 12:02

Recently replaced all interior doors with solid wood ones. Previous doors were the mdf pre-finished ones which were flimsy and we didn't like the look mock woodgrain finish of.
Starting to wish we'd stuck with the old ones as these wooden ones are a PITA!
Got them hung by a decent handyman and all was fine. They all hung fine and closed cleanly. Then the decorator started to paint them and after primer and one coat, one door started sticking. Got handyman back, (paying him again!), to adjust it and all was fine. Final coat has gone on all doors and now a different door won't shut. So flipping annoyed! I refuse to get handyman back again and have to pay again and again for endless tweaks. Between the cost of buying the doors, hanging them, painting them and then the fitting tweaks I dread to think how much we've spent.

How long can I expect this to go on?Is it just due to wood being a natural material and absorbing / losing moisture?
How easy is it for us to sort door ourselves and what tools do we need?

Also, should you paint the tops of doors to limit moisture entering?

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PigletJohn · 09/03/2014 12:56

Do you drape wet washing around the house?

Doors should be fitted so that a 10p coin will slide all round in the gap between door and frame. If they were fitted by a handyman ask around for a recommended joiner or carpenter. If the hinges are not right you will have constant problems.

If it is the new paint sticking, rather than the fit, rub the touching surfaces with vaseline on a rag, just enough to shine, not greasy.

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stuckindamiddle · 09/03/2014 14:17

Thanks piglet.

We don't hang washing around the house.

There's not a gap of a 10p coin width around door, no.

Also, I think some of our frames aren't true due to minor movement in the house.

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PigletJohn · 09/03/2014 14:28

it probably just wants more planing but, honestly, a carpenter or joiner will do a much better job, more quickly, than a handyman, at hanging doors.

If you find one, ask him to verify the hinges are correctly set as well.

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