This house had a double wooden entry door, each door being about 40" wide. One is rarely used; the other is for everyday use. The everyday door is bowed at the latch side toward the inside of the house by about 1/8-3/16". (The hinge side is okay.) So to engage the latch and deadbolts into their strike plates, one must push the lock area really hard toward the outdoors or slam the door closed hard.The first thing I will try doing is repositioning the door stops. I've read several methods for reversing the warp, and may try one of those measures.The real question is why should just one of the doors warp? Both are exposed to the same temperature differentials. Both doors have outer storm doors with glass panels during New Jersey's winter season. The colors on both sides of both doors match, but I can't guarantee that both sides of both doors are painted with the same type paint (latex vs. oil). The house was built in 1993.R1

...Assuming "wooden" means solid wood (as opposed to veneered MDF, etc., alternate construction) any number of possibilities, virtually all centering around moisture and movement of same.It's possible the one wasn't as well-selected piece of stock originally as the other so there's more grain to deal with (ideal would be quartersawn as opposed to plainsawn); that's the luck of the draw and how well the doors are built originally.More than likely there is a difference in whether the top/bottoms have also been finished, how much wear of that finish at the bottom, say, from the threshold has removed the finish and then allowed moisture a way in preferentially. Also, the side that is used also probably does get more direct impact from what weather there is as the storm on that side will be opened much more often to allow same; over a period of time that may have had an accumulative effect as well.Is there any change in the amount w/ seasons, weather, etc.? That would be dead giveaway you...

What causes warped entry door?

Apr 18, 2012 22 Replies

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Attila.Iskander 14 years ago

If you can temporarily block the entrance for a few days/weeks Remove the door while it's damp But it on blocks and weigh it down and set it out to dry in the sun That should set the new alignment much better than if you do it with the door dry.

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dpb 14 years ago

On 4/26/2012 9:50 AM, Attila.Iskander wrote: ...

Keep the frickin' weight off it; it won't do a lick of good in the long run.

If it was straight when it was dry initially (as OP indicated) it'll return to that condition when moisture equilibriates. At _THAT_ point, _then_ (and only then) can do some potential good w/ a refinish of all sides. Otherwise, it will just continue to move as moisture moves from the equilibrium point.

BTW, trying to dry it in direct sun will likely be the worst thing you can try; it'll really accentuate the rate of moisture removal preferentially which is _not_ what you want to do. A uniform, dry area of moderately warm temperature w/ the door in a neutral support position would be ideal.

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Rebel1 14 years ago

Later today, I'm going over to the development that runs the complex of well over 100 units (mostly 4-plexes). They may have an extra door available at a reasonable price.

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