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Will the Cold Weather Warp My Storefront Door?

Will the Cold Weather Warp My Storefront Door?

11/23/21
by Wayne Foreman

Your storefront door is one of the first things people notice when entering or passing by your business. You want to keep your doors in top condition all year long, but what happens if you live in a colder region? Depending on the location of your business, you may face harsh conditions over the winter months.

If so, you are probably concerned about how the low temperatures and precipitation can affect your doors.

It’s true that changing seasons is the number one reason doors get warped. However, there are some things that a professional door installation company can do to keep your doors from warping before they’re even delivered.

Keep reading to learn how the cold weather might affect your doors and what you can do to protect them.

How the Cold Affects Doors

Changes in the temperature and conditions outside are the main ways your doors get warped. Rapid weather changes and humidity can cause doors to shrink and warp, leading to functional and aesthetic issues.

Wooden doors are most likely to warp, so if you live in a particularly cold climate, you might consider other materials for your storefront door, such as glass. Moisture imbalance is the main reason for warp, and that’s why it’s most common in the winter months.

Moisture imbalance occurs when the atmosphere on the two sides of the door is different. The stress on one side of the door will be greater than on the other side, and this can lead to warping. When the moisture content is higher on one side, that side of the door will tend to elongate, shrink, or possibly bow.

Because storefront doors have one side facing the outside and one facing the inside, they’re the most prone to warping. During the winter months, warping is common, but there are plenty of things a professional can do prior to installation to protect your storefront doors from warping down the line.

How to Protect Your Doors from Warping

The best ways to protect your storefront doors against warping all come before the installation process. Before installation, your contractor needs to make sure of a few things to keep your door protected over the winter months and during all seasonal changes.

Here are some things to discuss with your installer to prevent warping down the line:

  • Doors should be stored in a dry area to avoid excess moisture
  • Doors must be sealed on all six sides
  • Doors must acclimate to new surroundings before exposure to harsh conditions

These conditions are all the responsibility of your door supplier. This means you need to pick a trusted company to work with. If a company has poor reviews or can't answer your questions, it's best to avoid the risk.

Hire a contractor that is transparent about how they store their doors before shipping so you know you’re getting a quality product. Make sure to ask about how the doors are sealed, as proper sealing is the best way to prevent warping down the line.

Solutions for Warped Doors

In most cases, a warped door is permanent, but it may straighten out a bit on its own. To prevent warping, collaborate with a trusted supplier to ensure thorough door sealing and protection.

Another easy way to prevent warping is to go with a material like glass for your storefront door. This is an attractive material and will withstand cold temperatures very well.

You can also try some hacks on your own, such as laying wet towels over the warped portion for several days. Add more towels to increase the weight as the warp straightens out.

Ultimately, the best solution for a warped door is a door replacement. Upgrading your storefront door impresses visitors and allows for a more durable material selection.

We Offer a Wide Variety of Doors

At CDF Distributors, we offer a variety of doors, all properly stored and sealed for protection. We can ship your doors anywhere in the country using standard or priority delivery. Build your quote today to get started.

 

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