Wood is an elegant, insulating, and timeless door frame material that can add beauty and functionality to your entryway. However, unlike modern materials, wood is prone to damage from several environmental factors, including pests, moisture, fire, and of course, wood rot.
Wood rot is unsightly, but it can also cause frustrating problems for your home, including high energy bills, structural issues, or difficulty closing your entry door. Needless to say, it’s crucial to remove rot from your door frame as quickly as possible to prevent these costly issues. But before you can address the issue—you have to learn how to identify it.
What Causes Door Frame Rot?
Many door frames are made from wood, a material prone to moisture damage and, therefore, rotting. Wood rot occurs when your door frame is exposed to moisture and fungus. If the fungus isn’t cleaned away from your wood, it will begin to reproduce and eat away at your wooden frame, which leads to rotting.
5 Common Signs of Door Frame Rot
Do you suspect your entry door may be rotting? If so, here are some clear signs of rotting to look for:
1. Crumbling Wood
Does your door frame look distorted, warped, or deformed? You can often observe rotting just by looking at your door—but you usually have to do some “deeper digging” to identify wood rot, especially if you’re hoping to catch the problem early.
If you gently tap on your door frame with a screwdriver, the wood should be sturdy and immovable. If the door frame is pliable or soft to the touch, this is a sure sign of wood rot.
2. Dark Spots
When you glance at your entry door frame, it should be the same lovely shade you selected when you installed your front door on your home.
However, if your door frame has dark stains, spots, or a speckled appearance, this usually indicates fungus growth or water damage—a sign that your door is already rotting or will begin rotting soon. Typically, the bottom of your frame is most exposed to the elements, so it’s best to start your examination here (with a flashlight) and work your way up.
3. Functional Problems
Does it take unnecessary upper body strength to open your entry door? It isn’t normal for doors to be difficult to open and close. Usually, these doors are dealing with functional problems from rotted door frames.
Rotting makes wood warp and swell, causing your doors to no longer sit plumb in the frame. Sticky doors are annoying to use, but they’re also more vulnerable to break-ins, creating safety concerns for your family.
4. Uncomfortable Drafts
Rotting can cause your entry door to swell, making it difficult to open, but it can also create cracks between your door and door frame, allowing drafts to enter your home.
Drafts make the environment in your home inconsistent and uncomfortable. They can also force your heater and air conditioning unit to work overtime to keep your home at a cozy temperature, leading to costly utility bills.
5. Peeling Paint
Peeling paint is always a sign of moisture damage. If you see peeling, flaking, or cracking paint on your door frame, it’s usually a sign the frame has already begun rotting.
My Entry Door Is Rotting. What Should I Do?
Rotting typically begins after your wood is exposed to water. In addition to entry door repair or replacement, it’s crucial to identify the source of the unwelcome moisture to protect your home from further damage. Since identifying (and fixing!) water leaks can be challenging, it’s wise to hire a professional installer, like Kelly Window and Door, to replace your door instead of trying to complete the project yourself.
Install a New Entry Door with Kelly Window and Door to Rid Your Entryway of Wood Rot
Although it may be frustrating to learn that your entry door is rotting, it’s also an excellent opportunity to add beauty, durability, and security to your home with a brand-new entry door.
Kelly Window & Door installs steel entry doors that will create a sturdy, energy-efficient, weatherproof barrier between your home and the outdoors that’s completely immune to rotting. Plus, you’ll “wow” family, friends, and guests with your gorgeous new entryway.
Learn more about our entry door services to discover how we can remove wood rot from your Raleigh area home (forever!) with entry door replacement.