Problem with T&G door facing

[Handyman]

I've made a nice-looking cellar door 1m x 1m, with 125mm T&G facing glued and screwed to a ledged and braced frame made out of 3" x 1". Trouble is, the T&G has expanded widthways with the weather, and the whole thing is now curved across its width

I've now separated the T&G from the frame (it's now 2mm wider than the frame), and the frame is flat again. How should I reconstruct the door to prevent warping? Should I reconstruct whilst the timber is 'weathered' and use just one screw (and no glue) at one edge of each piece of T&G so that it gives it a chance for the facing pieces to contract in dry weather?

 

[fitter]

I would not use glue and leave a small movement gap on t&g. If you only had 2mm movement on 8 boards, gap would not have to be that big.

Also try one screw near the middle of each board and give the hole a bit of clearance

 

[masona]

Agreed with fitter, should not glue the T&G at all only the frame joints instead.

This is why the laminated glued flooring type have to have a expansion joint round the edge.

 

[Handyman]

Thanks for this, guys. I thought I'd overdone the glueing at the time. Single screws, it is, but near to one edge so that the screw holds down both pieces by virtue of the T&G.

 

[big-all]

some things to keep in mind

you should store timber in the area your going to use it
to acclimatise so the moisture levels are ballanced

t and g cladding hasnt got much of a tounge
so if your cellar is likely to dry out it may
shrink and leave a gap

i would suggest you try and get it to average moisture content
screw or nail on one edge as you say and leave a 1mm gap

then seal with 2 or three good coats to try and keep it stable

good luck

big all