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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 includes 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. |
Sliding glass doors:
| Sliding glass door has a wood, metal, and/or vinyl frame and casing
with two (single or double pane) glass panels. The door slides on a track
and usually has a thermal-break to reduce condensation.
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Locking Mechanisms:
| Locking mechanisms are secured with different locking mechanisms,
including: key-in-knob, thumb latch and dead bolts, security bars on
patio windows and 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/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. |
NOTE: Interior doors are often hollow core or builders 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. Delamination of an
interior door is typically caused by moisture, however, poor manufacturing
may be the cause in some cases.
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