What makes doors swell

The issue of swelling doors is all too common here in the South. Our hot and humid climate cause doors to swell especially wooden doors. Experts agree, the most common cause of a door that sticks in the frame, or ones that scrapes on the floor, is moisture. When a wood door is not sealed or varnished around the edges, particularly the bottom edge, moisture is absorbed into the wood and causes the timber to swell. Blowing warm air with a hairdryer or heat gun to dry out some of that moisture is a quick fix for a swollen door.

Another option is sanding the area along the edges and beneath the door. However, you may have to remove the door to do this. We install energy-efficient patio doors. In addition, they are guaranteed not to crack, corrode, and rot. Call us at or complete our online form to request a free estimate. We serve homeowners in Portland, OR. You might even get cracks in the walls. In addition, poorly made hinges could sag or warp over time.

This could lead to those hinges sagging, and a door that sticks. Wooden doors swell because they absorb moisture from the air. Wood expands in warm temperatures, and contracts in cool temperatures. This causes issues with the way the door fits in the opening. If you live in an area that is humid year-round, the door will swell. There are a few approaches you can take to fixing a stuck interior door. In some cases, the cause of the sticking door is simple — a build-up of dirt and grime. Simply cleaning that grime off could fix the problem.

This could be in the frame of the door, or you might have a sticking door latch that needs cleaning. Run a piece of paper around the top, bottom and latch side of the door — the point where the paper stops and gets stuck is the area that is sticking.

Open and close the hinges. If the hinges squeak, this is a sign that they probably need to be oiled. Before you do this, check that the door is plumb — if it is sticking towards the top of the door and the hinges are creaking, then the hinges could be sagging, and need to be tightened or adjusted. If the door is sticking in several places, it could be swollen because of the humidity. This is likely to be the problem if your door sticks in summer, but is fine during the winter.

If you have one, try running your air conditioner to get rid of the moisture in the air. Running a dehumidifier can help, too. In fact, a portable dehumidifier can get rid of several litres of water per day, and will help the door return to its original size. You may want to paint or seal the door once it is the correct size, to protect it from the effects of the humidity. White Internal Doors. Laminate Doors. Walnut Doors.

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