Front door wont shut properly due to cold!

Dan_Iggulden

I have noticed over the last week or two that the front door has become more difficult to close, feels like it is very very tight to the frame and takes a bit of a push to get it shut. However, this morning, it is incredibly difficult to close, when I push is flush to the frame, the door is clearly too wide at the top by a mm or two, I assume the door has contracted slightly due to the cold. The hinges look fine although I do note a slightly larger gap at the bottom of the hinged size of the door than at the top. Is there any easy way to fix this?

SailorSam

If it's a wooden door you're going to have to get a plane and shave a bit off, if it's sticking around the lock you may need to take the lock out before you plane it. Although it's awkward you can do that without taking the door off but if it's the top or bottom of the door, there's no other way to take the door off, unless rough sandpaper will take enough off to ease it.

Dan_Iggulden

It's uPVC unfortuantely. I'm hoping it will sort itself out when the temperature rises a little?

SailorSam

Not much you can do but wait.
In my last house i had Upvc and where the lock is on the door i took off the plate that covers the lock, and them i removed the 'receiver' part in the door frame, and that gave me just a little bit of play.

I've just re-read your post, the difference in the gap at the hinge side, i wonder could you pack something like cardboard behind the hinges to try and equilise them.

societys_child

The hinges (and lock-plates) on uPVC doors are adjustable in all kind of directions. You need set of allen keys usually.

G_M

Several possible causes:
* door has expanded due to damp or temperature
* frame has expanded
* frame has moved (or ground on which frame sits has moved

my (wooden) front door frame moves every year due to shallow foundations - outwards in summer, inwards in winter. So the door hinges are adjusted to provide a larger than usual gap between door and frame, leaving space for this movement.

MOst hinges can be adjusted, or removed and replaced a few mm to one side.

If damp is suspected, then paint or water-proof the door and frame.

jonesjw

Rubber seals are stiffer at low temperatures. My door was slightly more difficult to lock last week. It's fine this week.

kitschkitty

Dan_Iggulden wrote: »

I have noticed over the last week or two that the front door has become more difficult to close, feels like it is very very tight to the frame and takes a bit of a push to get it shut. However, this morning, it is incredibly difficult to close, when I push is flush to the frame, the door is clearly too wide at the top by a mm or two, I assume the door has contracted slightly due to the cold. The hinges look fine although I do note a slightly larger gap at the bottom of the hinged size of the door than at the top. Is there any easy way to fix this?

expanded not contracted - and sorry I know that's no help in fixing your problem whatsoever it was just bugging me! :o:o

Innys

kitschkitty wrote: »

expanded not contracted - and sorry I know that's no help in fixing your problem whatsoever it was just bugging me! :o:o

Wrong. When things get cold, they contract - basic physics.

As it's a UPVC door, swelling of any wood due to moisture is unlikely to be the reason.

I reckon jones' explanation is the most plausible. When rubber gets cold, it becomes less flexible, which would make probably make the seals stiffer and make the door harder to shut.

johnfarquhar74

Innys wrote: »

Wrong. When things get cold, they contract - basic physics.

Water is an exception to this 'basic physics'. When water gets close to freezing and beyond, it starts to expand due to the crystalline structure, it can expand by almost 10%. Accepting the fact the door & frame is UPVC, that is not to say there isn't any wood beyond the frame that may be damp and expanding in the colder weathers???