How to tell if composite door is installed correctly?

[Sneezin]

Hi I have recently had a composite back door installed, it was supplied and fitted by a company. I pay after I am happy (not paid yet), which is why I used them.

The door fitters took less then 2hrs to remove old wooden door and reinstall new one, however 1 day after the door is making creaking sounds coming from the bottom hinge hinge and now that sounds gone and its coming from the middle hinge oddly, obviously this is not normal. The company has been notified and they are investigating the matter.

But I wish to find out how I can test if a composite door is installed correctly, the correct and technical way?

So far with my limited diy skills, I have guessed 3 points......

1. The inside of the door should have even lines (3-5mm) and gaps on all 4 sides like this picture (Mine is fine):

2.I checked with a few spirit levels, tops, bottoms, sides, inner sides of frame, door, bottom cill/step and basically everywhere on the door and frame of door to make sure its level and the spirit bubble is sitting in the middle. (which it oddly is 100% fine)
Like this:

3. I saw a YT video from a door installer here, mention you can't just use spirit levels but need a Carpenters square and it should sit flush and be level in all 4 inner corners like this:

Now my new installed back composite door fails the carpenters square test
(I tried 2 different squares), it does not sit flush in the corner and the spirit level bubble is off in 2 different corners.

here is the pic:

Can anyone confirm if this carpenters square test shows a bad door installation? And is there anything else I can check myself?

Thanks

 

[foxhole]

If it’s not square it can be level in every direction either.

 

[big-all]

as i mentioned on uhm the level may not work up side down if it has an ark [banana shape] that can only throw the bubble to the edge iff upside down rather than conical where bubbles work in vials regardless off orientation as identical when level

How to tell if composite door is installed correctly? - www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

 

[stevie888]

It's basic geometry that if your 4 edges are true vertical or horizontal then the angles will be 90 degrees.

In your case if the gaps are equal then I'd suggest the alignment is OK. (I certainly wouldn't be demonstrating my levelling prowess when they come back).

It's possible that they haven't fully and/or properly packed the frame to the walland there's a little bit of flexing going on

 

[johnny2007]

Some flex in the frame, as stevie said.
They'll adjust the hinges to allow the door to work fine.
Your square looks like one of the chinese pieces of fake stainless steel from poundland; I wouldn't rely on that.
Besides, it is virtually impossible to have a door sitting 100% square and levelled.
This is more true after some time from installation.
Don't worry about it, they'll adjust it and all will be fine.

 

[Sneezin]

It's basic geometry that if your 4 edges are true vertical or horizontal then the angles will be 90 degrees.

In your case if the gaps are equal then I'd suggest the alignment is OK. (I certainly wouldn't be demonstrating my levelling prowess when they come back).

It's possible that they haven't fully and/or properly packed the frame to the walland there's a little bit of flexing going on

Thanks, I did try the spirit levels around the inside of the frame avoiding any screws/door metal bits and even on the outside frame and it all appears true vertical and horizontal, so those angles should be 90 degrees. I just couldn't get my head around why 2 different carpenters squares were not sitting flush in some corners like the YT video demonstrated it.

Also 1 of the other corner angles the carpenters square showed the bubble in the center but not on the others.

But otherwise basically ignore the carpenters square and stick with the spirit levels always?

Some flex in the frame, as stevie said.
They'll adjust the hinges to allow the door to work fine.
Your square looks like one of the chinese pieces of fake stainless steel from poundland; I wouldn't rely on that.
Besides, it is virtually impossible to have a door sitting 100% square and levelled.
This is more true after some time from installation.
Don't worry about it, they'll adjust it and all will be fine.

£5 quid from Amazon, so yes. Ill ignore the carpenters square and stick with spirit levels from sounds.

Yes to both questions, it does feel like a bit of flexing going on, I was going to ask if new doors require some settling in?

Since after few days, its no longer making any strange noises from the hinges.

Yes the door fitter said he prefers a tight fitting, I tried 4mm grey packers on the inside of the gaps and they all fit fine (like in the 4 black arrows), maybe they don't require to adjust it after all.

 

[johnny2007]

So, your only problem was a noise from the hinges that is now disappeared.
They'll check and adjust if needed.
Yes, composite doors need time to "bed in".
In different temperatures they behave differently, especially opening and closing, easier or more difficult.
All composite (and wooden) doors do that.

 

[Sneezin]

Thanks for all replies
while I wait for this company to get back to me, my door appears fine with no noises after 2-3 days so perhaps needed to bed in.

maybe its of no concern again, but does the distance between the gaps need to be equal in distance?

I noticed that between top, middle and bottom the distance is not equal id say roughly 3-4 mm smaller and tighter gap difference in middle and bottom when using a measuring tape, I would have thought bigger would be fine to allow expansion but its actually 3-4mm tighter. Nothing to be worried about?