Doors are for privacy and security. Exterior doors are made from solid wood or foam wrapped in metal. The R value(insulation rating) varies widely with material used to make them as much as the thickness matters. The higher the R value the better the insulation rating. Exterior doors should always have 3 sturdy 4 inch or better hinges attached with at least one 4 inch wood screw in each hinge through the door frame and well into the wall framing. Exterior doors can be quit heavy. Door handles should have key locking, many also have a dead bolt. All exterior door hardware should be made from brass to avoid rusting. All exterior doors should be weather stripped along the outside edge and have a door sweep installed along the bottom edge. The underneath side of the door sill should be well caulked to help avoid water entering in bad weather possibly getting under the entrance floor covering material causing it to lift.
Interior doors are generally hollow and made from very light material. They should have about a one inch clearance along the bottom for ease of opening and air circulation in the home. The hardware consists of 2 hinges and a non locking handle. Bathrooms are the only interior door that should have a lock on the inside of the door for privacy. If a door becomes hard to open this could indicate the house is settling and the frame may need adjusting or the door trimming. Some homes have adjusting teleposts in the basement in place of regular posts that support the beams. It may simply be a matter of screwing up the post for the door to become aligned again.
The most accurate method of checking your door for level is to use a plumb bob(a string with a weight attached). Hang the plumb bob along the sides of the door frame makeing sure the string hangs the full height of the door but does not touch the floor. The top of the frame should be checked with a hand level. When hanging a door always start with the hinge side, make sure the top is level and finish with the opening side. Doors should always open in so the person on the inside can always get out. An outside door should never open out this way the pins holding the hinges together will always be on the inside for security.
Problem: Damage. Damage to doors is usually impact. The door may not swing properly and be secure. The implications are water, and air leakage and possibly injuring someone.
Problem: Hardware problems. Hardware problems include rusted, broken, missing, loose and/or inoperable. These may be broken springs, misalignment or missing pieces. Doors should latch positively. Hardware problems will frustrate people using them and possibly cause further damage to the door and its frame.
Problem: Trim problems. Loose or missing trim can allow air leakage into building components which may result in condensation damage. Trim should be provided around all doors..
Problem: Caulking around Door frames. Caulking may be missing, loose and/or deteriorated (cracked, shrunk, dried out). Moisture may get into the building structure causing water damage. Caulking may have failed as result of using the wrong caulk for the job, caulking dirty surfaces, caulking during adverse weather. Caulking is a maintenance issue, ensuring the water and air tightness of the building.
Problem: Condensation between panes. Condensation between panes on sealed multi-glazed windows indicates a failed seal. Condensation will typically only show up when there is a big temperature difference between indoors and outside.
Problem: Cracked glass. Cracked glass may be caused by mechanical damage or building settlement. The implications are water and air leakage and possibly injuring someone.
Problem: Door sill or threshold needs to be caulked underneath to prevent water entry. The implication is water getting under the finished floor covering and lifting it.
Problem: No drip cap. Drip cap flashings are installed behind the siding and over the door to keep water from above getting into the walls from around the door. The implications are water entry into and damage to the wall system..
Problem: No step up into house. Where snow accumulates, there should be a step going up into the house from the landing. The landing should not be flush with the threshold. Water and snow are likely to get in around the bottom of the door. The door may also become water damaged over time.
Problem: No weather stripping. Weather stripping keeps cold air drafts out and the heat in for better comfort and energy savings.
Problem: Paint/stain. Most wood products need regular paint or stain. Paint helps to protect against rotting and deterioration as a result of ultraviolet light. Paint also provides some mechanical protection against water passing over wood. The implication of missing or failed paint or stain is deterioration of the wood.
Problem: Rust. Metal rusts as it is exposed to weathering.
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