What goes wrong with front doors if you wait
Sticking and rubbing doors
Wood doors swell in the wet season, and heavy doors slowly sag on their hinges. A door that rubs or drags wears the finish, damages the frame and gets harder to lock.
Drafts and higher heating bills
Worn or torn weatherstripping and a bad door sweep let cold air and rain blow in under and around the door, and let your heat out.
Locks and handles that fail
Stiff or misaligned locks, loose handles and worn deadbolts are a security problem. A lock that will not turn usually fails at the worst possible time.
Rotted door frames and thresholds
Water that gets past a worn sweep or cracked threshold soaks the bottom of the frame. On older homes the bottom of the jamb and brickmould often rot first.
Common jobs we take on
- Weather stripping replacement on exterior doors
- Door sweep and threshold replacement
- Sticking or dragging front door adjustment
- Deadbolt, lock and handle replacement
- Exterior door installation
How Lower Mainland weather affects front doors
Months of damp air and wind-driven rain in the Lower Mainland make wood doors and frames swell, so a door that closes fine in August can stick badly in November. Doors facing south or west also take strong summer sun, which fades and cracks the finish and dries out the weatherstripping.
Winter storms push rain under doors that do not seal properly, and occasional cold snaps make drafts very noticeable. In the Tri-Cities, homes close to the mountains see even more rain and cooler temperatures, so a good seal at the front door matters.
Warning signs to watch for
- The door rubs, sticks or needs a shove to latch
- Daylight visible around the edges or under the door
- Cold drafts or water inside the threshold during storms
- A stiff, loose or misaligned lock or handle
- Peeling finish or soft wood at the bottom of the door or frame
Maintenance tips
- Tighten hinge screws and handle hardware once a year
- Lubricate locks with a dry graphite or lock lubricant
- Replace flattened or torn weatherstripping and door sweeps
- Refinish or repaint the door when the finish starts to fade or crack
- Keep the threshold and bottom of the frame sealed and painted
How G2 Home Services handles front doors
We re-hang and shim sagging doors, install longer hinge screws into the framing, adjust strike plates, and plane only where needed. New weatherstripping and sweeps are fitted to seal tight. We install and re-key quality locks and handles, repair rotted jamb bottoms, and can supply and install a new exterior door with fresh trim when it is time to replace it.
Every job is backed by our written promise: a locked-in price before we start, we redo anything you are not happy with, and a one-year workmanship guarantee.
Front Door Repair & Weatherstripping near you
We are based in Coquitlam and take on these jobs across the Tri-Cities, Burnaby, New Westminster, Vancouver, Richmond and the North Shore. Got other small jobs too? Add them to the list and we will do them in the same visit. See small jobs & odd jobs.
Front Door Repair & Weatherstripping: frequently asked questions
Why does my front door stick in winter?
Wood swells with the damp, and the door may also have sagged on its hinges. Usually tightening and shimming the hinges fixes it without needing to plane the door.
Can you install a new lock or smart lock?
Yes. We install standard deadbolts, handle sets and most smart locks, and adjust the door so the bolt slides in smoothly.
How long does it take to install a new front door?
A standard pre-hung exterior door is usually installed in a day, including trim and sealing.
