Door sticking

[woobie82]

Wasn't sure which forum to put this in...

I've noticed in the last 2 weeks or so, 2 interior doors have begun to stick. The door leading from the kitchen/hall to the basement steps, and the bathroom door, off the kitchen, directly opposite the basement door.

I'm guessing this is occuring due to the house settling? Only other thought I have would be due to humidity (though it hasn't been THAT humid) causing the door to swell.

We've been in our house about 1 year, and this is the first I am noticing this.

What is the best method for correcting this? Removing the doors from the hinges--then trying to plane the top edge of the door? Or use a circular saw to take about 1/4" off the top of the door? Or another solution? Thanks for the help everyone...

[kactuskid]

I am guessing it's caused by humidity, it may not seem real humid but it can get into a wooden door and cause it to swell just enough to cause it to stick. Before doing anything I would suggest waiting till winter and see if the problem still exist. Running a dehumidifier in your basement will help loads in ridding your home of excess humidity. You could try tightening the screws in the hindges to make sure everything is tight. If the problem goes away in the winter then applying a sealer on the doors will help in preventing them from taking on moisture, I have the same problem in my home every summer.

Here's a few links that'll give you additional details, just be sure not to sand or plane off excessive amounts of wood in the case that humidity is the culprit.

http://www.cornerhardware.com/howto/ht049.html

http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/homemaintenance/dnw/doorstick.php

[woobie82]

Thanks for the advice KK.

Only reason I don't think it is humidty-- the door to the basement steps is sticking...but the door in the basement to the garage is not sticking. Nor are any others in the house, just these 2 in the one corner of the house.

[kactuskid]

The door in the basement to the garage, is that a wooden door or steel. If it's wood, well, don't know then, just be sure to go easy, a power finishing sander will probably make it easier, then seal the wood really well.

[woobie82]

Both doors (steps and to garage) are wooden. So, that was my thinking as far as the humidity.

Already was looking on line @ Sears at sanders...figured I didn't want to start something like that by hand. Thanks again

[Snoonyb]

Where is the door sticking, the top or bottom of the door away from the hinges, or the top bottom of the side away from the hinges?
With either door fully closed, where is the difference in the gap between the door and the frame.

Illegitimas non-carborundum

[LazyPup]

It is possible that the problem door has been planed in the past and the wood was not properly sealed afterwards, which would account for why one door is effected by humidity and not the other.

Whenever a door is planed, the planed surface needs to be sealed immediately.

Get a small container of shellac and as soon as you have the door planed to fit, brush a layer of shellac on the exposed wood. It will dry in 15 to 30 minutes.

[woobie82]

Hey guys...thanks for the thoughts...

They are sticking along the top edge...which makes me wonder, as you point out Pup, if they previous owners experiences the same issue, and planed the top edges, and didn't seal...We've been in the house 1 year, prior owners about 2 1/2 years, before them original owners (house is about 45 years old).

My dad has a both a power planer...I've got a sander. Not sure which direction I'll go yet, hopefully take care of them this weekend.

Any thoughts on what to seal with? Shellac fine as you suggest Pup, or use some Thompson's or similar product (have a little leftover that was used on some wooden rails on the back porch). Thanks again guys.

[LazyPup]

If you sand or plane the door with power tools start the tool near the middle of the door and push it out toward the edge. That way as you approach the edge the rotation of the cutters or sanding belt is pulling in towards the door, rather than pulling away. This will aid in preventing the outer edge of the door splintering out.

If you plane a door with a hand block plane, start at the outer edge and push in towards the door. Again, the cutter is pushing toward the door which reduces splintering on the edge.

A couple quick coats of sanding sealer or plain shellac should be sufficient to seal the wood.