How long to 'dry out' a door?

shagster · 29 Nov 2020

Hi everyone,

I've got a fire door that I stupidly left in a damp environment. Not directly in the rain or anything, but it expanded a few mm as the weather turned colder. I've brought it into the house hoping this expansion will be reversed. Once that happens I plan to paint/varnish it which I'm hoping will prevent further expansion (or greatly reduce it).

I know it's probably a difficult question to answer but any thoughts about how long I should leave it inside?

Burnerman · 29 Nov 2020

I'd say a couple of weeks at a moderate temperature.....can you hang it as soon as possible to minimise warping?
John

JohnD · 29 Nov 2020

If it is made of chipboard (which I'm sure it is) the swelling will never go down.

shagster · 29 Nov 2020

Yes, it is chipboard inside. I guess it's OK if it doesn't shrink. What I want to avoid is it shrinking after I trim it again to fit. So should I just leave it a couple of weeks then paint, then hang it?

Burnerman · 29 Nov 2020

I think that so long as the door hasn't been soaked the internals should be fine - I'd leave it a while then hang and paint it.
My own fire doors are ply clad with plasterboard and weigh a ton!
John

KenGMac · 29 Nov 2020

Suggest that you lay the door flat on bearers, say 4 along the length of the door, this will assist in stopping the door from twisting or deforming.

If you leave the door propped up against a wall, then the door may ?? bow over its height?

Ken.

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How long to 'dry out' a door?

shagster

Burnerman

JohnD

shagster

Burnerman

KenGMac

DIYnot Local

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