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"Water and wood never mix....."
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We have installed a lot of exterior doors here in Tallahassee. Between the rain and the humidity, exterior doors in Tallahassee really take a beating. In many cases, the components of the standard exterior door are not adequate to withstand the damp Tallahassee weather elements.
The areas of a door unit that are most effected by moisture are the lower areas: the door core, the jambs, and the trim. If the door jambs are made out of wood- as they are in many cases, they will rot if subjected to water splash within five to seven years after installation. Rotting of the wooden door core generally occurs simultaneously with the jambs. Door unit wood rot is accelerated even faster if mold and mildew are present on the surface of the wood sections, and painting is never enough to prevent or slow the rotting process.
When moisture continually finds its way into the components of an exterior wooden door, the area can eventually become an attraction into your home for termites. Termites thrive in the presence of both wood and moisture, and are often hard to detect until it is too late.
Below is a photo of the typical damage we encounter if a rotted exterior door is left neglected for too long.
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| WATER & TERMITES |
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| In the case of each of the doors pictured to the left, water had not only taken its toll on the doors and jambs, but the water had also been allowed to leak into the homes. In both cases, the water damage had invited termites into the homes, and had caused interior damage to the flooring, walls, and base moldings.
What do these doors both have in common besides termites and water problems?
They were both the wrong kind of door chosen for the locations, and they were both installed incorrectly from the start.
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Below is a photo of a door that has really taken a beating by the rain. In the case of this steel door unit, the rain has actually rusted the door away. The wooden jambs are also rotted.
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| RUSTED DOOR |
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How the problems shown above could have been avoided?
1.) The door should have been built from the correct materials for the wet location(s).
2.) The door should have been water-proofed during the installation to avoid leakage in the wet location(s).
* All doors need to be water-proofed by qualified installers above and beyond the door manufactures included seals and weather-strips.
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It is critical that you choose the correct door, made out of the correct materials for the location, and have it installed correctly, so that it does not rot or leak.
Do not leave these critical decisions and tasks in the hands of an inexperienced contractor or handyman. The knowledge of the installer does make a difference, and will keep you from having to pay to reinstall the same door again in 5-7 years because it was done incorrectly.
How can Dream Homes help with your door replacement?
1) Help you choose the correct rot resistant door unit for the location.
2) Help you choose the correct dent resistant door unit for the location.
3) Install the door and waterproof it correctly for trouble-free operation for years to come.
4) Install the door hardware correctly for maximum security and trouble-free operation for years to come.
*There are many "trade tricks" to doing the steps above correctly.
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Below is a door project.
CLICK ON THE PHOTOS to enlarge them.
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| BEFORE & AFTER |
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| Reframing the door/window opening |
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| The door is installed! |
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| Low-E, tempered glass windows |
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| Low-E Windows are installed |
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"Attention to detail is critical with a door installation....."
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Your choice of a Tallahassee Remodeling Contractor is the single most important key to the success of your general contracting, remodeling, or home repair project.
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