I’ve got a kitchen remodel project where the basement door has a cat door installed on it. When the door is opened and perhaps inadvertantly left open it faces an active heat register. Before the remodel the heat from the register would cause only the first layer of the paint on the door to peel and bubble and the HO wants that problem to go away without permanently removing the door or relocating the heat register or getting rid of the cat!!!
So I had the door stripped down to bare wood. Applied a couple coats of primer and a couple more coats of Semi gloss enamel and will let it dry and cure completly before the winter heat season begins. Problem is I’m afraid it will just do the same thing again. I’ve thought about installing Plam over the door but it’s costly and chances of matching the paint is zip.
Anybody have any great ideas?
Here’s a pic of the situation.
BjR
Replies
What kind of furnace and age.
Should not be hot enough to affect the paint like that. Might be a little brown over the years, but not bubble.
So my first thought is replacing the furnace with a modern one that will have 110-120 air temps.
Where was the paint pealing? The panel are just the stile around the cat door.
I am thinking about making a deflector out of plexy, but that will deflect more of the heat into the panel area. It will also strict air flow.
Another idea is to remove the cat door. And install a kick plate that covers the whole stile. then cut through that to reinstall the cat door.
It can be 1/8" plastic or aluminum or brass.
Or install an interlock switch on the door so that the furnace won't run when it is open.
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Easy answer, get a heat pump(;-).
There are different types of cat doors. Visit Drs Foster & Smith for a selection.
Some are larger (read: heavier). Some have magnets to help them close. Some are simple vinyl flaps - like you might see on a shipping dock.
Here's the simplest solution of all: Bommer hinges.
https://www.bommer.com/Parts/Default.asp?Product=LB4310Series&Description=Template%20Hole%20Pattern%20-%20LB4310%20-%20Series%20Square%20Corner
If you have clearance, change the swing on the door so it opens inward. Not as convenient, but given the parameters you've set, about the only solution besides hanging the door with hinges on the left. There's a doorway there, but it'd remind them to shut the door. <G>
I don't understand what the cat door has to do with the problem. If there's sufficient heat to peel the paint, it will happen with or without the cat door. I don't know what temperature the air is supposed to be coming out of a register, but in my house (forced air), it is not nearly warm enough to bubble paint.
Stripping the door down to bare wood, priming and painting is about all you can do. If your customer subjects the door to extreme temperatures, it's out of your control.
Paint problem could have been latex over oil which is poor adhesion results. Deglosser/'liquid sandpaper' solution will work for that.
put a closer on the basement door
Well? what did ya do?
I'm pretty sure it was an adhesion problem as somebody pointed out. I stripped the door and reprimed and painted.