Replies

1. 
   mdresimprov | May 19, 2004 01:50pm | #1

   Pinecrest. Quality and expect to pay for it.

   MES

2. 
   CW | May 19, 2004 02:04pm | #2

   Go to court.  The only exception is if you have installed a storm door with glazing over it. It won't be long before there are problems.  Too much heat build up if facing anywhere but north

3. 
   hammer1 | May 20, 2004 12:34am | #3

   Your doors may not be as inferior as you think. A door built of solid wood throughout is very suceptable to warping and twisting. It will shrink and swell with changes in the humidity. End grain to long grain joints such as a mortice and tenon will also move and in time will break most glue lines. If not pegged they can come apart. Only premium straight grained stock can be used to make a quality solid door, precise joinery and close attention to detail also add to the cost. The cost between a solid vs. most manufactured doors can be 10 times as much. The finger jointed, laminated, veneered doors are much more dimensionally stable and have a more uniform appearance. They utilize less precious resources and make doors affordable to everyone. Solid wood doors often need seasonal adjustments, a 36" door can move at least a 1/4" if not more throughout the year.

   Finishing is a major component for exterior exposure. All panel edges and the perimeter around glass must be caulked. The top and bottom edge, most important, must be finished. If you did not do this you will lose in court. Don't expect this to be the end of finishing. You will have to repeat the process at least every 6 yrs. sooner if weather exposure is high. Most doors have a ticket right on them that details handling and finish requirements, particularly how long it can sit without finish. You can't let them sit for a couple of months without protection. This is another thing that will come up in court. You also need to know how to paint. Too heavy a coat is not better. Often poor adhesion and failure of sucessive coats is due to too much paint and inadequate drying of previous coats.

   If solid wood was the answer there would not be as many steel and fiberglass units being manufactured. The fingerjointed stave cores with dowel conecctions were invented not only to lower material and labor costs but to improve reliability over solid wood construction. I buy my doors from Morgan when a customer wants a wood door. They have been around New England for a long time, have excellent products and stand behind them. Perhaps you got a dud or a cheapie. I would negotiate for a replacement slab before going the legal route. Much less expensive and stressfull.

1. 
   JOHNTMAC | May 26, 2004 07:35am | #4

   Thanks for your response. As stated in my post -- the door was very carefully prepped and painted. Its seems to me that replacing doors every couple of years is not a very good use of resources. What I see in homes is that the older solid doors wear and last much better than the "improved" versions.