Double Wood Doors - Problem with wood expanding in wet season.

[EVENKEEL]

I have an old house with the usual double wood doors in front.....along with sliding glass door inside the wood doors. In the dry season the doors shut nicely and then in wet season they're hard. Yes, I've trimmed the doors a bit a few times but obviously not enough.

 

Anyway, it's time for new ones....an upgrade. Does anyone here have recommendations for double doors?

 

A certain kind of wood that doesn't shrink and expand? Don't mind paying decent money. Thanks.

[degrub]

What about using an overlap on the two stiles instead of the current design ? Overlap could be routed into the two stiles ( vertical piece of the frame) where they close together or as an applied molding extending past the closure edge on one of the doors. With the overlap, you can cut back enough of the stile to allow for expansion and still give the appearance of tight closure.

 

Otherwise, with wood, you need to maintain a coating to reduce moisture level changes in the wood that causes the expansion.

 

Are the doors exposed to direct sun and rain ?

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

Use MRT - Moisture Resistant Plasterboard

 

 

[sometimewoodworker]

3 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

A certain kind of wood that doesn't shrink and expand?

All wood, without exception, will change dimensions with moisture content changes.

That said plywood will change dimensions the least as the change in orientation of the fibres with different layers will reduce the problem.

You can get good quality plywood and with a solid wood frame there will be little to no noticeable movement.

The alternative is to get doors built in a traditional way where the panels are free floating in the frame and the construction of the join between the doors will mask the small amount of seasonal movement.

 

All of this is obtainable in Thailand if you know where to look.

[Njoku]

On 10/21/2024 at 9:47 AM, EVENKEEL said:

I have an old house with the usual double wood doors in front.....along with sliding glass door inside the wood doors. In the dry season the doors shut nicely and then in wet season they're hard. Yes, I've trimmed the doors a bit a few times but obviously not enough.

 

Anyway, it's time for new ones....an upgrade. Does anyone here have recommendations for double doors?

 

A certain kind of wood that doesn't shrink and expand? Don't mind paying decent money. Thanks.

 

You need to seal not just the door front and rear but all 4 edges with a sealer, thats sides top and bottom, very very common top and bottom get over looked, this stops the growing and shrinking, seal when the dry season comes and dont plane off anymore till then, if you need to refit refit then seal everywhere.

[Dante99]

On 10/21/2024 at 11:33 AM, OneMoreFarang said:

Use MRT - Moisture Resistant Plasterboard

 

 

for a door?

 

are you okay?

[OneMoreFarang]

3 minutes ago, Dante99 said:

for a door?

 

are you okay?

I am pretty sure my doors are inside made from that material. And then a nice veneer on top of that.

They look nice, do that job, and don't have problems with moisture.

 

[EVENKEEL]

On 10/20/2024 at 8:12 PM, degrub said:

What about using an overlap on the two stiles instead of the current design ? Overlap could be routed into the two stiles ( vertical piece of the frame) where they close together or as an applied molding extending past the closure edge on one of the doors. With the overlap, you can cut back enough of the stile to allow for expansion and still give the appearance of tight closure.

 

Otherwise, with wood, you need to maintain a coating to reduce moisture level changes in the wood that causes the expansion.

 

Are the doors exposed to direct sun and rain ?

 

 

What you suggest is very viable. I've trimmed the doors back maybe 3-4 times in 8 yrs. A router is necessary and I've already hacked up the doors to a point where I think it's time for new ones.

[EVENKEEL]

15 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I am pretty sure my doors are inside made from that material. And then a nice veneer on top of that.

They look nice, do that job, and don't have problems with moisture.

 

I'm looking at something similar, time for an upgrade. Seen some UPVC doors.