Bessemer, AL on May 23, 2012

I have two warping back screen doors. This is what I am doing to restore them"

Please please tell me if this is going to work or not. I have secured all finish nail parts. I have glued and pressed in place the bottom of the worse case door. I even nailed it to the frame with 3 finish nails. I sprayed it down with water inside and out. Tomorrow I will prime all the outside wood on both doors and apply the top coats when prime is dry. After all that I believe I can finish all the necessary paint and will have straight doors. Will it work or am I dreaming. I am too old to take the doors off the hinges but I have tightened the hinges and added a missing screw. INPUT PLEASE.

25 Comments

Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

Refinishing the doors will do nothing to make them straight again. Once the wood warps its pretty much a done deal.
The only option that you have is to try to warp them back the other way. This would rely on clamps and some boards that are straight and some blocking in which you would clamp the frame so the wood bows the opposite direction. The door would have to sit that way for a period of time while the ...»
wood remembers the new way its supposed to sit.
Putting water on the wood can even warp it more as well. However using water on the wood when its clamped can help soften the wood a bit then once dry it tends to hold its new shape.

on May 23, 2012 · Like 1
Nancy Rhodes C Bessemer, AL

The door I nailed to the frame is nailed with 3 very slim finish nails all the way up to the top. I left them so that I can pull them out after I prime and the prime is dry.

on May 23, 2012 · Like 0
Nancy Rhodes C Bessemer, AL

I will, of course, sand before I prime. I am assuming paint will be more durable than stain. Ooh! I hope it works!!!! There is a small wedge at the bottom of the worse door so that the glue will adhere properly. I just hope it didn't all leak through while I was securing the wedge. There is plenty of time , you professionals, so tell me if I need to back up and do something else.

on May 23, 2012 · Like 0
Nancy Rhodes C Bessemer, AL

Maybe a little strip of copper at the bottom of each door will keep them from coming apart in the future?????? I am getting awnings as soon as my rood is replaced.

on May 23, 2012 · Like 0
Nancy Rhodes C Bessemer, AL

ROOF ROOF ROOF. Hahahaha.

on May 23, 2012 · Like 0
Nancy Rhodes C Bessemer, AL

Thanks Woodbridge Evironmental. Your last sentence gives me hope but I can see it will take the door longer to dry out (hopefully straight since it is nailed) than I had thought. So I have the wedge and the nails as clamps. The other door is OK.

on May 23, 2012 · Like 0
Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

I will keep rooting for you. Hope they work out.

on May 24, 2012 · Like 0
Peace Painting Co., Inc. Alpharetta, GA

You can also straighten them out with hardware called a turnbuckle that holds them in place too.
CP

on May 24, 2012 · Like 1
Nancy Rhodes C Bessemer, AL

Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas. Want to check out that turnbuckle.

on May 24, 2012 · Like 0
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

A lot of this could also be due to "failed" joints in the doors rail and style system of construction. I have had some success with angle "irons" and metal "T's" and "L" brackets.

on May 24, 2012 · Like 2
Nancy Rhodes C Bessemer, AL

Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas. I have had something in the back of my mind and I think they were "L" brackets. Might have some in the garage. Thanks KMS Woodworks.

on May 24, 2012 · Like 0
Nancy Rhodes C Bessemer, AL

When I am finished, I will post my doors. I may get the big head with all these creative ideas I am picking up on HomeTalk. Thanks loads everyone.

on May 25, 2012 · Like 0
HandyANDY Home Renovation... Marietta, GA

Can you post a pic of what they look like now? Take one showing the inside edge of the door. Installing hook-eyes at opposite corners and running a metal wire attached to a turn-buckle will probably do the trick. This will need to be done on the face opposite the curve or warp. These get added to alot of wooden screen doors for just that reason.
on May 28, 2012 · Like 2
Nancy Rhodes C Bessemer, AL

HandyAndy Home Renovation, I am side tracked with grass cutting etc. Actually I need to get to the hardware store for some reinforcement at the corners so the door does not slip out of place again in the lower corner of opening. I only have the door primed and nailed to the house. I will make a picture as soon as I pull the nail out. Thanks so much and don't forget to come back to see the pic.

on May 28, 2012 · Like 0
Kelly F Freeport, PA

good wood glue- non expanding - water resistant- and 2 long clamps that will go across the width of the door.

on May 29, 2012 · Like 1
Peace Painting Co., Inc. Alpharetta, GA

They are called bar clamps.

on May 29, 2012 · Like 0
Kelly F Freeport, PA

yep- bar clamps :)

on May 29, 2012 · Like 1
Nancy Rhodes C Bessemer, AL

I was thinking of bar clamps in the beginning but my thinking got mixed up. Thanks Kelly.

on May 29, 2012 · Like 0
Nancy Rhodes C Bessemer, AL

No, that is not what I was thinking. I was thinking of a metal plate like we use on front doors. I have glued already and just hope I did a good job as the door was hanging in place. I used carpenters Elmer's wood glue. I could not take the door down because I am not strong enough to put it back up by myself. The door is still nailed shut so that should be as good as bar clamps since I had first hammered it together tight with both sides glued. I hope to get the top coat of paint on ...»
tomorrow. My oh my!!! This is a man's job. Sure hope I can open that door when finished. Hahahaha.

on May 29, 2012 · Like 0
Kelly F Freeport, PA

Nancy- It sounds like you are making progress with that door! :) Let us know how it goes today. :)

on May 30, 2012 · Like 1
Nancy Rhodes C Bessemer, AL

Kelly, I bought a light weight very hard wood that is a thresh hold for the "kickplate". Thought it would look better than a brass one for the back door. Too tired when I got home to think about it but I like the idea.
Thanks for asking. Will return.

on May 30, 2012 · Like 0
Nancy Rhodes C Bessemer, AL

Of course I will screw it in place after it is trimmed about an inch and painted and the holes drilled.

on May 30, 2012 · Like 0
Nancy Rhodes C Bessemer, AL

Oh dear God in Heaven, help me get rested. All went well on the warped screen door until I started to secure the board across the botton. I guess I used the wrong screws. I drilled through the hardwood but maybe my bit was too small. The board cracked and I think the door did too. Good grief!!!! after all that work. I don't care about that door any more. I will get a security door. Case closed as I am half dead. Thanks for all the helpful ideas and I am sorry to have let you down.

on May 31, 2012 · Like 0
Peace Painting Co., Inc. Alpharetta, GA

You tried.

on May 31, 2012 · Like 0
Nancy Rhodes C Bessemer, AL

Yes, so very tired Peace Painting Co., Inc. My enthusiasm is shot for that door. I will go back to my gardens after I have ordered a new door. Thank you for the sympathy.

on May 31, 2012 · Like 1