Root cellar door, humidity = swollen wood.

fireweed farm · #1 08/26/12, 12:17 PM

Last summer we put in a wooden door with wooden frame as the "inner" door. The humidity caused mold growth on the painted wood. Plus it and the wooden frame swelled so wouldn't close without slamming shut.

I am now going to replace it with metal. Do I need to hang it in a metal door jam/frame? I'd assume yes, but seems like so much more of a project than I'd have hoped!

Thanks for any tips.

Darren · #2 08/26/12, 12:20 PM

Can you use a door made of plywood? The one to our cellar, also damp, is plywood. It has never swelled.

fireweed farm · #3 08/27/12, 10:47 AM

I'd rather something more solid and do have used building supplies available.
Just not sure what sort of frame I need.

frankva · #4 08/27/12, 11:20 AM

FWIW. I have a steel door with a wood core, and wood frame. It does not swell like a wood door. I always thought the steel frame units were a security type thing.

You might consider planing the door you have and adding weather stripping as needed.

Bearfootfarm · #5 08/27/12, 01:40 PM

I'd just cut down the present door a little.

Most try to make homemade doors too close to "perfect".

Leave bigger gaps all around, and use "quarter round" molding on the inside to cover the gap.

Your moisture is a ventilation problem, not a door problem
Putting in a steel door won't help change it at all