Water damaged doors are something that you leave unattended, so here are three steps that’s all you need to know on how to repair water damaged door facing. From the minor repair to major replacements, water damaged door repair is not to be done half-heartedly.
Doors are part of a house’s security. It is the first thing you, your family, and visitors encounter when treading your household. It is desired to be in its top condition, both in terms of structural integrity and appearance.
Water damage, when left alone, can cause the sturdiest wood to deteriorate and lose integrity over time. It is not something you left unattended and ignored for as much as you want. It requires an immediate and appropriate response.
You might be on edge and wondering what to do with your water damaged door facing, but don’t you worry, here are three easy steps that you need to follow to repair your door.
Steps On Repairing Water Damaged Door Facing
A water damaged door facing is unpleasant to see and dangerous to have. On top of that, you also have to check if your door frame is in the best condition.
Don’t worry because you will learn the repair procedure and how to do it with ease. Things can get messy, so prepare yourself!
Step #1. Assess the current condition
First things first, before you go tearing your door down is to check the door’s condition. See the extent of water damage it has sustained and try to look for the potential source. Dealing with the source beforehand is beneficial not only to your door but to your entire house.
Look for signs and types of water damage your door has. After that, is to prepare the materials that you determined are necessary for the repair procedure. Procure all you need, and now it’s time to proceed to the next step.
Step #2. Repair and replace
Now that everything is prepared, you can now begin to repair or replace your door facings. Because water damage has a lot of coverage, we’ll limit the repair procedure to the most prominent ones. Before that though, try to remove the door from the hinges first so that you can work freely.
The first and most common and least destructive type of water damage your door facings can have are water stains and mold growth. Water stains often come as darkened spots on the surface. The darkening of the surface is attributed to water seeping into the wood, causing a darker coloration.
On the other hand, Molds can be an early sign of water damage as mold tends to grow in areas wherein there is moisture present. Mold growth and water stains are types of water damage that can be easily observed in wood recently exposed to water moisture.
If these types of water damage can be seen in your door facing, especially mold growth, you can quickly repair it by cleaning the area thoroughly and applying a sealant to the door facing surface. For water stains, however, you first need to lightly sand the area with sanding paper and use a bleaching solution to lighten the color of the wood before applying a sealant.
Now we’ll move to water damages that had seeped entirely in and destroyed the door facing integrity. Due to prolonged water exposure, wood can get mushy and ultimately lead to wood rot. In these cases, you can select whether you can still do a repair or replace.
To determine whether you need to replace or repair it will depend on the extent of the damage. If the area to work on is too broad and can be considered beyond redemption, you must replace your door facing. However, if it’s the other way around, simple repairs can be done.
If the damaged part is relatively smaller than the entire door’s facing, cutting or carving out the damaged part and patching it up will do. Follow the facing’s outline, cut out the patching needed, and fill the necessary areas with a filler.
After patching the water damaged part, lightly sand the area to smoothen the surface. Wipe away the dust and other particles off the door’s facing. Now that you are finished patching up, it’s time to move to the last part.
Step#3. Finishing up
After fixing things up, it’s time to finish up. Apply your waterproof coatings and sealant to preserve everything you have done so far.
Let it dry out for a day, to be sure. After that, return the door to its hinges and secure it in place.
How long does it take to dry out water damage?
Drying water damaged wooden materials will depend on several factors. If left alone water damaged materials can take a long time to dry and can take up to several weeks without intervention and with prolonged water contact.
In most cases, however, water and moisture will dry out two to five days, but with intervention drying out water and moisture can be done faster and would probably help you avoid getting water damage on your materials and equipment.
Conclusion
Now that you learned how to repair water damaged door facing, you can now repair not only yours but maybe your neighbor’s door facings as well. Learning is a lifelong journey, and this can be a great addition to what you have. Not only have you learned a skill, but you can also probably save and earn money along the way.