Door swelling?

[Delar]

After googling, I found this thread https://www.byggahus.se/forum/threads/doerrkarm-svaeller-efter-montering.422286/

I have lived in the same apartment for over 20 years before and now for 10, and I live in a condominium. I have never experienced doors swelling. But two years ago, we replaced all four interior doors in our apartment. Now this summer, two of the doors have problems closing before they hit and you have to use force to close the doors.

I'm not that knowledgeable, but what can be done?

 

[g.kraft]

The swelling of doors/frames is due to an increase in moisture content. Summer/fall is more humid than winter, so it's not surprising you're noticing it now after this "summer." It may also be due to changes happening in your home. Poor ventilation, more people living/showering/working from home, moisture damage in your or a neighbor's home. Are there specific doors affected, near the bathroom/kitchen or near plumbing pipes?

It could also be that they are simply "sagging," meaning they hang crooked in the frame due to wear and tear. Do you have even gaps all around the door when it's closed?

 

[cpalm]

Wood swells and shrinks with humidity, there's not much to be done about that, other than adjusting the frame to have enough margin.

But this year has been very extreme. We've had 65-68% humidity indoors for a long period now.
So an alternative is to wait for better weather.

 

[Delar]

That doors/frames swell is due to them having a higher moisture content. Summer/fall is more humid than winter so it's not surprising that you notice it now after this "summer." It may also be due to changes in your residence. Poor ventilation, more people living/showering/working from home, water damage in your unit/neighbors. Are there specific doors, near bathroom/kitchen or near plumbing?

It might also be that they are just "hanging," meaning they hang crookedly in the frame due to wear. Do you have even gaps around the entire door when it is closed?

I don't know if the moisture content has increased, but in my 54 years, this is the first time I've experienced something this strange. The two doors lead to the bedroom. If there is a door that should be exposed to moisture, it should be the bathroom door, but what do I know.

I've checked, and they're not hanging crooked.

 

[Delar]

Wood swells and shrinks with humidity, there's not much to be done about it, other than adjusting the frame so there's enough margin.

But this year has been very extreme. We've been at 65-68% humidity indoors for a long time now. So one alternative is to wait for better weather.

I wrote "swells" in the title because I saw another thread discussing it. But it is very strange that doors swell up. Is it perhaps the cheaper doors that swell up, made of cardboard that absorbs moisture?

 

[raveper]

The hinges get worn and sag.

 

[cpalm]

Is it perhaps the cheaper doors that swell up, made of cardboard that absorbs moisture?

No, all wood swells and shrinks with the moisture content. Nothing strange about that.
But it is a slow process where time is a big factor.
Now, probably these doors have a slightly tight door gap. Normally there should be room to handle the fluctuations that occur. But this year, as mentioned, has been very extreme, at least here.

 

[Delar]

The hinges become worn and droop.

They were replaced at the same time when the doors were replaced.

 

[Delar]

No, all wood swells and shrinks with the moisture content. Nothing unusual about that. But it's a slow process where time is a major factor. Now, these particular doors probably have a slightly tight door gap. Normally, there should be a margin to handle the fluctuations that occur. But this year, as mentioned, it has been very extreme, at least here.

Or is it just here on the forum that there's a myth about swollen doors? At work, we have wooden doors, no swelling though. Wherever you go to the toilets, you'll find wooden doors, and I've never seen swollen doors. But as you say, is it something that you should accept every year and say, it's humid this year, so we have to put up with swollen doors that won't close unless you apply force and pull the door?

 

[raveper]

Well, it's not just the door that swells. The studs in the wall and the frame do too. But if you don't know how big the gap around the door was from the beginning. A new door in an old frame can already be tight there.

 

[Delar]

Yes, it's not just the door that swells. The studs in the wall and the frame do as well. But if you don't know how much gap you have around the door from the start. A new door in an old frame can already be tight there.

Who are you talking to?

 

[raveper]

No one. I write.

 

[Mats-S]

Recommend adjusting the door, it's likely too tightly adjusted from the start and the slightest movement in the house has caused it to start sticking. Or someone has "hung" on the door and caused it to change adjustment.

 

[Delar]

Recommend adjusting the door, it's likely too tightly adjusted from the start and the slightest movement in the house has caused it to start sticking. Or someone has "hung" on the door and caused it to change adjustment.

How do I adjust the door, through the hinge? If it was tight from the start, wouldn't it have already been touching the frame then?

Someone has hung on the door. Very possible, must have happened when no one was home by aliens.

 

[cpalm]

it's humid this year so we have to put up with swollen doors that won't close again

You don't have to put up with that. The alternative is to adjust the frame so it doesn't stick. But maybe unnecessary work if it only happens in extreme cases. That's up to you to decide.

The movement is only a couple of millimeters, nothing you can see with the naked eye.