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Doors
Wood
doors
Wood doors come in many types. Some are solid; others may be solid panels,
or hollow core. Wood doors commonly used in closet spaces are bi-fold,
solid, and sometimes louvered sliding units.
Metal
doors
These doors are becoming quite popular, especially as main entry doors
to the residence and as the fire separator door from the attached garage to
the living space. Fire-rated door requirements also include fire-rated
jambs. Check the door to see that it is properly fitted in the frame and
that the weather stripping is appropriately mounted. Quite often, magnetic
weather stripping is utilized in these doors. Check for poor fitting doors,
locking hardware and hinge problems. Other things to look out for is:
threshold height; that it is fit properly to the door and is secure;
condition of the weather stripping; dents; scratches; and signs of rust or
other oxidation.
Locking Mechanisms
Locking mechanisms are secured with different locking mechanisms, including:
(1) key-in-knob; (2) thumb latch and dead bolts; (3) security bars on patio
windows; and (4) pins inserted through window casings, etc.
Defects
Binding from movement or
improper fitting
Doors should be checked for
binding, which can usually be corrected by planing and sanding, however,
some situations may require cutting or trimming the door. Shimming the
hinges may be necessary for better alignment.
Missing hardware
The most frequently
discovered defects are missing or misaligned strike plates and loose
locksets.
Holes or dents in the
doors
Doors should be evaluated
on both sides to detect holes or dents, particularly in paneled and
hollow-core doors.
Rot and/or deterioration
Rot/deterioration from
moisture and insects most frequently exists at exterior door jambs, sills
and thresholds.
Weather stripping
A good method to check for
weather stripping is to close the door and observe from the interior. Signs
of light reflecting through at the doorsill or jambs suggest that the door
is not fit as well as it should be. Sunny days will reflect more light than
cloudy days.
Interior doors are often
hollow core or builder’s line quality.
Exterior doors are built
and glued for exterior use. It is important that interior doors not be used
for exterior applications. Interior doors have a tendency to delaminate when
exposed to exterior elements. Delaminating of an interior door is typically
caused by moisture; however, poor manufacturing may be the cause in some
cases.
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