Doors and Locks

Homeowner Use and Maintenance Guidelines

The doors installed in your home are wood products subject to such natural characteristics of wood as shrinkage and warpage. Natural fluctuations caused by humidity and the use of forced air furnaces, showers, and dishwashers, interior doors may occasionally require minor adjustments.

Bifold Doors

The Interior bifold sometimes stick or warp because of weather conditions. Apply a silicone lubricant to the tracks to minimize this inconvenience.

Exterior Finish

To ensure a longer life for your exterior wood doors, plan to refinish them at least once a year. Stained exterior doors with clear finishes tend to weather faster than painted doors. Treat the finish with a wood preserver every three months to preserve the varnish and prevent the door from drying and cracking. Reseal stained exterior doors whenever the finish begins cracking or crazing.

Failure to Latch

If a door does not latch because of minor settling, you can correct this by making a new opening in the jamb for the latch plate (re-mortising) and raising or lowering the plate accordingly.

Hinges

You can remedy a squeaky door hinge by removing the hinge pin and applying a silicone lubricant to it. Avoid using oil, as it can gum up or attract dirt. Graphite works well as a lubricant but can create a gray smudge on the door or floor covering beneath the hinge if too much is applied.

Keys

Keep a duplicate privacy lock key where children cannot reach it if a youngster locks him- or herself in a room. The top edge of the door casing is often used as a place to keep the key. A small screwdriver or similarly shaped device can open some types of privacy locks.

Locks

Lubricate door locks with graphite or other waterproof lubricants. Avoid oil, as it will gum up.

Shrinkage

Use putty, filler, or latex caulk to fill any minor separations that develop at mitered joints in the door trim. Follow with painting. Panels of wood doors shrink and expand in response to changes in temperature and humidity. Touching up the paint or stain on unfinished exposed areas is your home maintenance responsibility.

Slamming

Slamming doors can damage both doors and jambs and can even cause cracking in walls. Teach children not to hang on the doorknob and swing back and forth; These works loosen up the hardware and cause the door to sag.

Sticking

The most common cause of a sticking door is the natural expansion of lumber caused by changes in humidity. When sticking is caused by swelling during a damp season, do not plane the door unless it sticks after the weather changes. 

Try two other steps before planing a door because of sticking: first, apply either paste wax, a light coat of paraffin, or candle wax to the sticking surface; second, tighten the screws that hold the door jamb or door frame. Even after these measures, if planning is necessary, use sandpaper to smooth the door and paint the sanded area to seal against moisture.

Warping

If a door warps slightly, keeping it closed as much as possible often returns it to normal.

Weather Stripping

Weatherstripping and exterior door thresholds occasionally require adjustment or replacement.

Lucullan Limited Warranty Guidelines

During the orientation, we confirm that all doors are in acceptable condition and correctly adjusted. Lucullan will repair construction damage to doors noted on the orientation list.

Adjustments

Because of the normal settling of the home, doors may require adjustment for proper fit. Lucullan will make such adjustments.

Panel Shrinkage

Panels of wood doors shrink and expand in response to changes in temperature and humidity. Although touching up the paint or stain on unfinished exposed areas is your home maintenance responsibility, Lucullan will repair split panels that allow light to be visible.

Warping 

Lucullan will repair doors that warp over 1/4 inch.