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How to fix door paint peeling where it hits the frame?

I recently had a construction company replace two of my external doors. The door bow towards the external of the hours at the bottom and are pressing against the frame stops before the door is latched closed.

I have tried multiple time to sand the frame and door in the affected location, then priming and painting with two coats and leaving the doors open for 8 hours after I finish. But it keeps happening.

Would putting a weather strip on the door frame stops help or would the paint still stick to the strip and peel off the door?

Are there any other suggestions for fixing this?

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Comments

MitchellMc

That’s a tricky one @SelinaKyle. It sounds like the issue is caused by the contact point between the door and the frame. When the door closes and latches, the paint layers from both surfaces are being compressed together, effectively fusing slightly under pressure. When you reopen the door, that bond tears and causes the paint to peel away.

Without adjusting the door to create more clearance, which can be difficult without affecting the fit or appearance, there’s unfortunately not a lot you can do to completely stop it. You could try adding a weather strip, but it might actually make the issue worse by increasing pressure in that spot. On the other hand, it could also help if it prevents the painted surfaces from directly contacting each other, so it’s worth a try.

I also noticed the paint you’ve used is a sample pot. These are great for testing colours but aren’t designed for durability on doors. You’d get a much harder-wearing finish using a water-based enamel such as Dulux Aqua Enamel, which is what’s typically used on doors and trim. It’s tougher and less likely to stick to opposing surfaces. However, I can't guarantee that it would resolve the situation.

Ultimately, the root of the problem is that pinch point, but using a harder enamel paint and possibly testing a thin weather strip are your best options without needing to rehang or trim the door.

Just on a side note, new doors shouldn't be bowed at all. If you continue to have issues, you may want to consider speaking with the company that installed them or installing a new door that is not bowed. We offer a Door Installation Service that you may find beneficial.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

SelinaKyle

Yes the sample pot was to just touch up those areas and is what the builder told me he used.

the doors are bowing quite a lot, it’s worse in the afternoon. My understanding now is that he should have used Dulux weathershield maxiflex in semi gloss because the doors are in direct sunlight in the afternoon.

Currently when the bottom of the door first touches, the center of the doors are still 5-8mm away at 7am in the morning and 10-12mm away in the afternoon. So the paint in not expanding and contacting with the wood causing the door to bow.

I have the builder coming back on Tuesday. But it is my understanding the doors will need to be replaced again which is pretty bad when they were installed only 2-3 weeks ago

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/59128#Comment_59128

I've never heard of using an incorrect paint causing a door to bow that significantly, @SelinaKyle. Being a front door, it would be solid-core, and that would take an immense amount of force to cause it to bow that significantly. If anything, the paint would peel off the door or crack if expansion were an issue. However, there's a first for everything.

Mitchell

SelinaKyle

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/91935#Comment_91935

The doors that were replaced were back doors. They are hollow core external doors.

The builder is the one who said it’s because of the sun. My painter believes the doors were not sealed properly. I did some research on what paint should be used and discovered that weathershield should have been used. This is assuming that the sun is the problem. And given that the bowing is worse in the afternoons when the doors and in direct sunlight that would support the theory.

Others have said that the door was not hung correctly and that caused the bowing but that wouldn’t explain the bowing changing at different times of the day. But no matter what the cause the builder is going to have to replace the doors again to fix his mistakes and I want to make sure it’s done correctly this time.

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