Fixing Internal Doors That Stick

Do your internal doors stick? This can be a problem and it’s not unusual, in fact it’s quite common. Whatever the cause it can be frustrating, they either don’t close as they should or they won’t open and you have to push really hard from the other side. As this is such a common problem for thousands of people, we’ve come up with a few tips on how to fix your doors should they suffer the same problem.

Why are your internal doors sticking?

Before you can stop your doors from sticking you need to know what it is that’s causing it. You’ll need to carry out a simple investigation into what you think it might be. It could be hinges or jambs which may need adjusting slightly or perhaps the door itself has swollen due to humidity. If your home is suffering from damp, then this will probably exacerbate it.

Hinges or Jambs

If it’s the hinges or jambs which are an issue, then a quick fix with a screwdriver should be sufficient. You can use a hand screw rather than an electric drill in case you damage the door, and screw the hinges in again, gently.

Humidity

If humidity is the cause of your sticking because the wooden doors have swollen, then use a dehumidifier, all you have to do is plug it in and that’s the hard work done, the dehumidifier will suck out all the moisture out of the air.

Damp

The damp will still need to be treated and this can be done in a number of different ways, but if you don’t treat the cause, you will be constantly dealing with the sticking doors problem repeatedly.

Friction

This can be treated with oil, soap or candlewax, it’s only temporary and you may need to do it a few times before you see a permanent solution.

Sanding

this can really help, as your door may need to be trimmed, and you can do this by removing the door and sanding it before rehanging it You can then repaint and finish it afterwards.

The Replacement Door Company – Experience & Quality

Get in touch with us here at The Replacement Door Company if you need any further advice on what we’ve discussed. We’re always happy to help, and if you’re looking to replace internal doors in your home, then always consider us your first port of call.

Front Doors in Winter

In winter, it’s likely we’ll experience different kinds of weather, which will have some impact on our homes. Hopefully, this will only be on the external part of your home, although this brings with it its own stresses, especially if there’s any damage to the roof, doors or garden.

Hopefully, your home won’t experience too much damage as a result of the weather, but your front door will probably take a bit of a bashing. You’ll need to keep an eye on them, so they won’t sustain too much wear and tear over the winter months. We know the weather can have a negative impact on your property, we’re going to be looking at the types of damage it can be prone to and what you can do about it. So, read on and make sure you’re prepared.

Cracks and Sticking

These are two common problems for front doors. Cracking is common after a drop-in temperature. We’ll bang on the central heating as the weather gets colder, and from the inside, as a result, dry air absorbs the moisture from your door. It can then cause cracking and warping. This can really impact on how your door looks, resulting in paint damage because the wood beneath has contracted and expanded.

Sticking happens when the weather gets colder and the wood in your doors contracts. This will eventually have an impact on the size and shape of the door. This means it will eventually be difficult to open and close, raising issues with security and privacy. Hinges could work lose, and of course the frame is also affected. With a weaker, less effective door, you’re looking at a replacement.

Sealing the Doors

As lower temperatures cause such problems do our front doors, there are things we can do to protect ourselves from the frost. We can add a seal to our doors, covering any gaps, and for this you can use sealing strips and/or sealing paste. This will help preserve its shape and appearance and at the same time, improve the soundproofing, stopping cold air getting into the house.

Finishes, Insulation and Tightening

Adding a finish to our doors is really helpful. We can use a wax coating, this can be very helpful in providing a barrier against moisture, avoiding warping and cracking. Always make sure the door is clean before adding a coating and allow it to dry before applying, or you could get trapped moisture. Try draught excluders for added insulation, so you can keep warmer air on the right side of the door, so you’ll be warmer within. You can also try tightening the door too, you can do this by tightening the hinges with a screwdriver.

Replacement Door – Quality Doors For Your Home

Get in touch if you have any questions regarding the topics we’ve covered today, we’re always here to help, and remember that here at The Replacement Door Company, all our front doors are made from superior, quality materials.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Wooden Doors

Wooden front doors serve many functions, although most of the time, we only think of them as gateways, a way of getting in and out of a house or building, but a door needs to be secure, shut out noise, keep the cold out and offer good insulation. It also needs to complement the architectural design of the house as well as fit in with your personal style.

Wooden Doors – Traditional, Beautiful, Elegant

With so much riding on your choice of door, you think that sticking with wooden front doors is perhaps the best option. After all, it’s the safest most reliable way of providing warmth, security, insulation, style and elegance. Wood is the most traditional material to be used for a door, so it seems like a natural choice for everyone.

Door strength – if it’s external, you’ll need strength and durability

With all this in mind, we’ve decided to take a look at wooden doors and at the advantages and disadvantages of timber doors. Today’s wooden doors are made from different pieces of plywood or sometimes laminate, with hardwood adding support. They come with great energy efficient insulation capabilities and as they’re finished off with thick plywood you’re guaranteed a strong door.

It’s important you choose a door that’s made in this way if it’s going to be an external door. The inclement weather during the cold winter months will have an adverse impact on the wood, so it’s important to use to choose 100% solid wood for your front door or any other outer doors. That way you’ll benefit from the beauty of solid wood and have a secure door.

Are Wooden Doors Value For Money?

However, wooden doors can be expensive, especially solid wood, and if it’s been customised, bespoke, then you can add more to the final price. However, if you’re interested in the traditional aspects of wood and you want it to give you external protection, then wood is probably worth the expense. It can also warp and crack over the years and paint can start to peel. You will probably have to add the cost of annual maintenance to your wooden doors as they will need repainting and resealing on a regular basis to keep them in tip top condition.

The Replacement Door Company – Wooden Doors For the 21st Century

If you’re still undecided and you’re looking for wooden doors for your home, whether they be for external or internal use, get in touch. Here at The Replacement Door Company we pride ourselves on our craftsmanship and expertise, so if you’re looking for a wooden front door, you’ll be hard placed to find anyone better than us.

How to Measure for a Composite Door

It’s important you get the measurements as accurate as possible when you’re having a new composite door, because if you don’t, a badly fitting door will cause you all kinds of problems. Poor security, loss of warmth and a reduction in noise protection will leave your home vulnerable, and it will work out more expensive as you try to rectify the situation. It’s better to make sure your door fits as it should.

Correct Measurements are Crucial

If you measure correctly the fitting of a composite exterior door, it’s always going to a much better fit. The fitting of these types of doors is complex and if you do it carefully, any brickwork or any existing wooden frames will accommodate the new doors much better.

Measuring the Width of the Composite Door Frame

Keep in mind that if you choose a composite door you’ll need to measure the width of the door frame because this type of door comes with their own frame.

Other Parts to Measure

The parts you should measure then are the middle, bottom and top widths on the both the outside and inside. If the existing door frame is made from timber it may be best to remove it completely. This will help keep the opening as wide as possible to accommodate the new door. However, if you find that the existing wooden frame will allow for the composite door to open comfortably, then it may be best to leave it, although the door may not open as wide.

Take Off 6mm in Both Width and Height

When you give your door size to the door manufacturer, take off 6mm in both width and height first. You will also find that when you come round to fitting the door, you may need to alter the hinges on the lateral or vertical planes after measuring the sides with a spirit level.

Quality Composite and PVC Doors For Many Years

If you don’t feel confident taking the composite door measurements yourself, then perhaps you should let one of our team do it for you. We’d be more than happy to do it, and that way you’ll be sure of a good fit. All our doors are of good quality composite materials and we can always guarantee excellent workmanship on each of our doors. Get in touch and we can start talking about getting your composite doors fitted as soon as possible. 

Sliding Wardrobe Doors vs Hinged Wardrobes

If you’re toying with the idea of sliding wardrobe doors as opposed to hinged wardrobes, then you’re in for a treat. In this post, we’re going to be telling you about all the reasons why it’s such a great idea to have sliding wardrobe doors in your bedroom. As well as a contemporary streamlined feel, sliding wardrobe doors give you more space and room to move around.

Space and Storage

When you have hinged doors on your wardrobe it means opening the door out, which takes up room, if someone’s trying to get past then it creates problems. Furniture placement can be difficult because you must always consider the amount of space needed to open the door of your wardrobe. You’ll also find that a more traditional wardrobe with hinged doors doesn’t offer the same amount of storage space than a wardrobe with sliding doors does. With sliding doors, you can allow for more storage space within, meaning less clutter and more floor space.

Contemporary, Streamlined Look

If you have a more modern home or you’re just looking for a more streamlined contemporary look, then the sliding wardrobe doors style is an excellent choice, giving you a more minimalist feel. There’s a wide variety of different styles and colours, much of which can match any type of room décor.

As well as providing more space for furniture placement, a sliding door can be useful in other ways. If you have mirrors it can also help to make your bedroom seem bigger than it is. You can also have them bespoke, so they’re made to measure the space you have using materials, textures and colours you’ve chosen yourself.

Choose durable materials for your sliding wardrobe doors, because don’t forget that your sliding doors will be opened and closed on a regular basis. Make sure that if your redesigning the room that everything matches, ensuring all colours, textures and materials work together harmoniously.

Quality Materials and Installation

Quality is the keyword here, because not only are the materials you use to make your sliding door wardrobe important, the slider used and installation all have a crucial role to play. A cheap slider will result in breakage much sooner than you’d like and a cheap badly put together installation may result in the doors coming off the tracks, leaving you with the unappealing look of a broken door.

Replacement Door – The Best in Sliding Wardrobe Doors

Now you know how advantageous sliding wardrobe doors actually are you’ll be eager to choose some wardrobe doors for your bedroom. We can help you choose what feels right, allow for the size of your bedroom and the amount of furniture you’ll have in it, and we’ll install it for you. We can help you create a bespoke design which fits in with your own personal taste and any themes going on in your room. Contact us today so we can get started.

Which Internal Doors Suit Your Home Best?

If you’re choosing new internal doors for your home, then you may be having a hard time deciding which doors are best for you. Before investing in new internal doors, you need to consider your existing décor as well as your budget. The style of your home and your personal tastes are naturally going to influence your choices, and you won’t be changing them every year in a similar way to changing the colour of the walls, so you’ll need to choose well.

There is a lot of choice out there, but there are some which are particularly suited to certain properties, which might help to make your choice a little easier.

Contemporary Internal Doors

If your home is contemporary in design, then wooden internal doors are an excellent choice, you can go with either light or dark wood, any colour which ties in with the style of your home. Give your door a sleek finish and if it has glass panels, then these should be frosted or clear. If you go with a metal door then this will look great for an industrial feel, and if this is in keeping with your chosen style, then that’s great, if not, then perhaps metal is not such a great choice. Door handles should also be sleek with a minimal amount of detail.

Classic/Traditional Internal Doors

If you have a classic and more traditional style of home, then you’ll probably find that most styles of internal doors work. There are some standard designs which are great for this type of house with wood either painted in white or a colour with added warmth, complementing the style of your house. Look out for the type of timber you have in your home, perhaps on the furnishings or flooring and match your doors to it. You could go lighter or darker wood with the doors just for something a little different. You could also go with panelling which works well with traditional houses.

Cottage Internal Doors

If your home is more country than town, then you can go for some original and rustic type doors. Try doors made from large wooden planks or old panelled wooden doors with iron handles is another great idea. If your home has been renovated, then you can probably get away with something more modern such as sliding doors. With careful thought, you can mix modern and traditional for some clever contrasting elements.

A Versatile Choice of Internal Doors

Don’t be afraid to put your own personal stamp on your home because it says something about you and personal style. Take all the different factors into consideration such as the style of your property, the internal themes going on inside and your personal tastes and you should have it covered. Choosing internal doors doesn’t have to be chore, by planning well, it can be a much more enjoyable and stress free experience. 

Effective Fire Doors

A fire door plays a very important role in protecting a building from fire. Its role is a passive one, and is used mostly in commercial buildings, flats and offices. A good fire door will prevent fire from spreading and keep it contained.

Fire Doors are Made Up of Various Materials

There’s a collection of different materials used to make a fire door, each an essential component to make the fire door effective. Any wrongly used components in the making of the fire door can render it useless and a potential risk.

If you have an escape door as well as a fire door, it should be correctly fitted with the right materials for it to operate effectively. You’ll also find that appropriately used signage is essential and mandatory, so when there is a fire occupants can escape safely.

Check Your Fire Alarms and Extinguishers

You’ll find that your alarms and extinguishers must be checked periodically to make sure they are fit for purpose. These checks will be placed in the hands of the responsible person/health & safety/risk management officer.

Who is Responsible For Fire and Escape Doors?

A competent person is essential for making sure fire doors and escape doors are working as they should, this will normally be a fire inspector. He will provide a report on the condition of the doors and make recommendations for improvements and any repairs.

You can go online or contact your local fire department to find out who your Certificated Fire Door Inspector is for your area.

How Often Should You Have Your Fire Doors Inspected?

The answer is that it depends on what type of building you have and who occupies it. If you are responsible for a hospital or school, then you may have to have your doors inspected more frequently due to the increase in foot traffic.

British Standards BS9999 recommends an inspection every 6 months, however keep in mind that it’s your responsibility to make sure your doors are looked after and properly maintained on a regular basis.

Make sure your staff are trained on fire safety and make sure that only a Fire Door Inspector who’s been certified can check your fire and escape doors.

Two Types of Fire Door

There are two types of fire door. The FDKS and FDKL, the first is a keep shut door, the second is a keep locked. They both perform different jobs, with the FDKS allows people to leave quickly when there’s a fire, they’re usually found in offices and corridors. The FDKL is usually attached a store room or cupboard, this type of room must be kept locked when not in use and immediately on exit.

Replacement Door – Quality Fire Doors

If you wish to purchase a fire door, then get in touch with us here at Replacement Door and we’ll be glad to go through the choices and make suggestions on what’s right for you. We’d like you to be happy with your purchase, as fire doors are so important, so don’t leave it until you have a fire.

Energy Efficient Front Doors

Your front doors can make a tremendous difference to your utility bills. If you think your front doors are for little more than for shutting the world out, then you’re wrong. When you replace them, you need to look out for thermal high performance front doors and by doing that, you’ll save money on your heating bills.

You Need Your External Door to be High Performance

High performance external doors will help keep your house warmer, they are usually made from superior materials, and when brought together provide superior thermal protection. Many external doors have triple or double glazing and may use glass panels which will help prevents heat from escaping.

What’s great is that they also significantly cut out noise. However, not all energy efficient doors are glazed, some are made from solid materials such as aluminium or timber. Today’s front doors are so well made they also fit better and therefore help to reduce draughts.

Energy Saving Doors are Graded

There will be a grading by which energy efficient doors are measured by, it is similar to that used for white goods. Doors today come with an energy efficiency rating of A to G, with A naturally being the most energy efficient. If it comes in at less than an E, then it won’t meet the current building regulations. This helps you to find the most energy efficient, without having to do too much homework, because this simple grading system makes it easier to understand which doors are best.

The U-value

The rate through which heat is lost through a door has its own name too, the U-value. It’s good news if your door has a low U-value because it means there’s less heat loss and the door is more energy efficient. If your door is going to meet building regulations, then it needs have a U-value of 1.8 or less.

Windows and Doors Together

Buy your doors when you purchase new windows as it may work out cheaper for you, whatever money you spend now, you’ll save in heating bills later through saving energy. Of course there will be other factors to consider when you buy your new front doors, such as fire safety and aesthetic appeal. Keep mind that if you live in a conservation area, then the type of doors and windows you use may be restricted, so check this out.

Replacement Door – For the Best Front Doors For Your Home

If you’re looking to replace your front doors and you’re looking for energy efficient ones, then let us help you. We have a professional sales team and all our doors are made from high quality materials in a variety of different styles and colours. If there’s anything you’d like to discuss with regards to energy efficient doors then get in touch and one of our team will be happy to help.

Interior Doors Buying Guide

Your interior doors need to stand up to daily usage, they need to be strong and they need to be able to shut out noise from between rooms. At the same time, on an aesthetic level, they need to look good and fit in with the overall look of your home and fit in with your personal tastes.

Interior doors come in a variety of configurations and styles, and are made from a variety of different materials. The type of door you choose needs to be practical and hard-wearing yet at the same time measure up visually.

Why are you having new doors?

There may be a variety of different reasons why you’re changing doors, perhaps you’ve had a refurbishment carried out or maybe you’ve had the house repainted and decorated and you don’t feel the doors fit in anymore. It could be because of wear and tear, they don’t close properly or the locks won’t work. Whatever the reason you need to choose the type of doors you’re going to have carefully.

Different doors for different tastes

You can choose from a variety of different material and styles, from flat doors to panel ones, or ones with louvres (slats). Materials range from traditional wood, UPVC or composite. You’ll need to choose doors which are not going to swell and warp with humidity and retain their shape for many years to come.

It can be a difficult choice and getting it absolutely right is a difficult task, once you have them in place, you may be stuck with them for many years, depending on your budget.

Classic or Contemporary

If you have a traditional period property, you could go with a braced or ledged door which are especially good with country style homes or converted barns. A more modern contemporary home might look good with glazed doors, or minimalist flush ones, go for sleeker doors that give your home an elegant touch.

Folding Doors

You can have folding doors which are great for houses that don’t have much space and really work with open plan living. You can have them custom made, as you can with any doors as well as the folding ones, or you can have ones which come from a selection of pre-existing doors.

Replacement Door Company – Quality Interior Doors

Whichever type of door you choose, make sure you choose ones you like, yes they must be practical and hardwearing, but you’ll be the one looking at them every day, so choose ones which you can live with. Get in touch with us here at The Replacement Door Company and we’ll help you choose your interior doors, we know how important they are to you, so get in touch and let us know your preferences and we’ll see what we can do.

Front Door Buying Guide

When you buy a house, you may think only of the practicalities of it. The front door carries out numerous functions such as keeping out bad weather, giving you security and controlling noise pollution.

Your Front Door Should Match the Character of Your House

A front door should match your house and emphasise its character, as well as fit in well with your personal tastes and inner décor. It should be a reflection of what’s within. The front door is also a focal point, and for this reason it’s important to choose well when picking out a new front door.

Curb Appeal Matters – Let Your Front Door Do the Talking

Also keep in mind, that if you’re thinking of selling up in the next few months or years, then your front door is a major contributor to kerb appeal, so it could help add value to your property. Remember, that your door is one of the first things people see, and first impressions count, so make sure your door makes a good impression.

Your Front Door Bears the Brunt of the Weather

Because of the elements and heavy wear over the years, front doors show their age sooner rather than later, especially if they’re on a busy road. Most of the older doors are traditionally made from wood. Wood is a beautiful material for a door, however it can be vulnerable to the weather. 

Modern Doors are Significantly Better Quality

These days’ front doors are made from different types of materials that will last significantly longer. There is a vast selection from which to choose, this includes conventional wood, if you prefer it, or doors made from a mix of materials, fibreglass composites or uPVC. By using a combination of these materials, the door is protected from a variety of different things, such as weather, noise pollution and helps keep its shape.

You can buy your front door with a complete entry system, that is a door which is pre-hung in a frame, where the bottom interlocks with the threshold with the lockset and hinges as part of the system, flanking the door. All parts of this type of system are designed to work well together and are made to be energy efficient.

A Wide Variety of Quality Front Doors

If you’re looking for a new front door, why not get in touch with us here at The Replacement Door Company and let us help you choose the right one for your home. It can be both aesthetically pleasing and fulfil all the practical and functional needs a door should have to last over the years.