Door hanging - is this right? Help needed

DearDIYers · Post by **DearDIYers** » Thu Aug 18, 2022 4:41 pm

Advice needed please.
Had a joiner come to measure for 11 new internal doors. I ordered doors and fittings.
Joiner spent 2 days fitting and needs to come back to finish next week. However, I have noticed some things I am not sure are right.
He has had to take quite a bit of 3 of the doors due to their unusual size but he didn't advise me of this when I ordered the standard sizes. He has taken it of the hinge side of the doors which are down to the internal chipboard. When I asked about this he advised it happens and its rectified by putting a door strip down the side?
Also, the bathroom door handles are not quite level on both sides and the 2 doors on the landing have handles at different heights. There is also a small chip to 1 door just above the handle.
I have attached pictures to help.
Please could you advise me if this is the workmanship I should be receiving?
Thank you

Scotty001 · Post by **Scotty001** » Thu Aug 18, 2022 5:28 pm

I'm no expert but... If it were me and my house.
1)The miss aligned door handles would drive my ocd crazy (I'd end up cowering in a corner shaking.)
2) one of those handles are missing a fixing screw
3)i hope the door that has been trimmed right down to the chipboard is NOT the bathroom door, not just because it's unsightly but I'm 90% sure moisture is going to get straight in there, blow the door apart and rot the door to bits, it will start with you not being able to either open or close the door as it has swelled, to the door falling off the hinges becuae the screws have nothing to grip. Has the installer said they are going to put a sealing stop on to prevent this from happening? That will make the width wider and more trimming required.

DearDIYers · Post by **DearDIYers** » Thu Aug 18, 2022 6:49 pm

Hi

Yes one is a door to the bathroom and the other 2 are a bedroom and kitchen door. I did wonder about the moisture issue from the bathroom.
The handle you refer to that's missing a fixing screw-this is a bathroom door and the handle is a locking one where you pish a button in. Should it still have a fixing screw?
The installer just said he would put a door trim on the edge that is down to chipboard. I would have had the doors made to fit if I had known he would do this. I am quite upset about it as my husband has paid him half the money!!

fin · Post by **fin** » Thu Aug 18, 2022 6:56 pm

if i was fitting doors like that id be wanting a minimum £80 per door and id not be getting 11 doors done in 2 days or even 3 days.

what size doors? what are the approx size of your frames?

if the frames are miles away from normal sizes then id be advising to replace the frames.

oak veneer doors only have an allowance for trimming of maybe 6 or 8mm (all manufacturers seem to be slightly different) if its trimmed though to the chipboard then clearly its past the tollerance allowed.

i have in the past had to trim into the chipboard on the top or bottom. certainly not ideal..... but obviously on the side of the door its deffinately not ideal at all.

if ive fitted all the doors into new linings that ive made also and fitted then i would get all the doors fitted and for the handle position id measure 1 meter from the top of each door. because i have fitted all the linings i know theyre all level so i know the handles will all be level. if i measure 1 meter from the floor as some ive seen do.... you then run the risk of handles at different heights if the floor is out of level

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Thu Aug 18, 2022 7:05 pm

These can be tidied up with some oak veneer glued onto the exposed edge. You can get pre-glued iron on rolls, check eBay.

DWD

DearDIYers · Post by **DearDIYers** » Thu Aug 18, 2022 7:09 pm

Thanks for the reply. Is is a problem that the bathroom door is down to the chipboard because of the moisture?

fin · Post by **fin** » Thu Aug 18, 2022 7:12 pm

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284896756725 ... R86k9KXWYA

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Thu Aug 18, 2022 8:37 pm

Veneer the edges, finish the doors with Ronseal Perfect Finish which will seal against airborne moisture. The satin leaves the doors natural and protected.

DWD

fin · Post by **fin** » Thu Aug 18, 2022 10:24 pm

any oak jobs ive done in recent years ive had them finished in danish oil. (the instructions on the doors state to only use osmo oil or clear varnish) clear varnish will wreck them basically. it will not look all that clever at all. the finish with osmo is canny like. but i reakon the finish with danish oil is better. it doesnt do any harm to the doors at all. maybe itll cause a problem on one in 10000 doors or so.... i dunno.

i posted on insta tonight a few pics of doors i fitted about a year ago. they were howdens and xl joinery doors. a mix and match due to customers requirements and on my part costs of the available doors. the doors were finished in danish oil. i actually carry in my van a couple of samples of oak handrail finished in danish oil to show customers what the finish will be like.

https://www.instagram.com/p/ChaX5chqck7 ... hare_sheet

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Fri Aug 19, 2022 12:11 am

sorry fin my brain said dewalt router ------ i love my 18v :dunno:

nice job apart from that

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Fri Aug 19, 2022 6:17 am

Just a point on the Ronseal Perfect Finish it is so easy to apply you wipe it on with the supplied sponge applicator, it is quick application and drying, it really does give a lovely finish that is much lighter and natural than the colour in your photos. It also does not mark with fingers as grease simply wipes off. Give it a try Paul as and experiment.

DWD

DearDIYers · Post by **DearDIYers** » Fri Aug 19, 2022 7:22 am

The doors are already pre-finished.
Are we saying that edging strip is okay then? Even on a bathroom door??

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Fri Aug 19, 2022 9:12 am

Are you sure, they look like bare wood to me? Yes, the veneer on the exposed edge will be fine if applied correctly, not too hot with the iron just enough to melt the glue as you work it in. Patience to wait until it is set before trimming back the edges and gently sanding to finish. As long as it has a sealer on it will be fairly impervious to any excesses of air bourne moisture in everyday bathroom use.

DWD

DearDIYers · Post by **DearDIYers** » Fri Aug 19, 2022 1:29 pm

Thank you for your help. I have been back and checked and the doors all say they are pre-finished. We got them from Howdens but one of the doors (on the stairs landing) was a completely different finish to the rest (no grain and felt different) which is odd? They have agreed to replace it without cost. I have measured the handles on the 2 doors at the top of the stairs and 1 is higher than the other by 0.5cm?? They are next to each other so you can really tell.

fin · Post by **fin** » Fri Aug 19, 2022 6:33 pm

big-all wrote: ↑Fri Aug 19, 2022 12:11 am sorry fin my brain said dewalt router ------ i love my 18v
nice job apart from that

the dewalt 18v router is class. i only use it for light stuff likes of routering in hinges etc. which is what it was doing on that pic.