In a previous story, I mentioned some of the items inspected in a home. Doors are among them, and they are more important than most people realize.
Without a properly operating exterior door, you could wake up at four in the morning and find the neighbor’s dog sitting on your couch.
Damaged weatherstripping can allow unwanted air leakage and increase heating or cooling costs. Interior doors provide privacy in bedrooms and bathrooms. A defective doorknob can become especially irritating when you are standing outside in the rain with both arms full of groceries.
Doors, like windows, come in many styles.
Interior doors may include:
- Panel doors
- Flush doors
- French doors
- Pocket doors
- Bypass doors
- Bifold doors
Exterior doors may include:
- Panel doors
- Storm doors
- Sliding doors
- French doors
- Patio doors
- Doors between the home and garage
They may be made from wood, steel, aluminum, fiberglass, composite materials, or combinations of materials. Some contain fixed or operable glass. Others are custom-built for unusual openings—and usually come with a custom price.
Inspecting a Door
During an inspection, I check accessible doors for visible damage and operation.
A door should generally open and close without excessive force and latch securely. Large gaps may allow drafts, reduce privacy, or indicate that the door or frame is out of alignment.
One of the most common door conditions is what I call dragging.
You may have a dragging door in your home right now. As it closes, the edge rubs against the frame and gradually wears away the paint or finish.
Sometimes the repair is as simple as tightening a loose hinge screw. Other times, the problem may involve:
- Loose or failed fasteners
- Damaged hinges
- Frame movement
- Improper shimming
- Settlement
- An improperly installed door or frame
The exact cause may not be visible during a noninvasive home inspection. Determining it could require removing trim or performing other investigative work that is outside the inspection.
When the cause or repair is not readily apparent, a licensed general contractor should evaluate the door and make repairs as needed.
Checking the Hardware
Part of inspecting a door involves checking the handle and latch.
Most of the time, turning the knob retracts the latch exactly as intended.
Occasionally, it does not.
That may not seem like a major concern—unless you are standing on the wrong side of the door.
I carry a tool bag through the home during an inspection. It may contain:
- Screwdrivers
- Pliers
- A GFCI tester
- A mirror
- A moisture meter
- A flashlight
- A carbon-monoxide detector
- A digital thermometer
- A probe for checking suspected deterioration
That is not a complete list, but it is already more than I can comfortably carry in my pockets.
I usually keep a flashlight and screwdriver in my back pocket.
On one particular inspection, that screwdriver became very important.
Story Time
My old routine went something like this:
I would enter a room, grab the doorknob, and close the door behind me. If the door closed smoothly, I would inspect the room. When finished, I would open the door and examine it for damage, deterioration, loose hardware, and other visible concerns.
I still inspect those things.
I no longer begin by closing myself inside an unfamiliar room.
This lesson was learned in a basement bathroom in the middle of nowhere.
I entered the bathroom, closed the door behind me, and completed the inspection. When I turned the knob to leave, I discovered that I was still standing inside a bathroom with a very securely closed door.
Turn.
Wiggle.
Tug.
Turn again.
Nothing.
I was locked inside a basement bathroom with no cell-phone service.
I was not particularly worried about dying in there before someone found me. I was more worried about the financial consequences of using force to escape.
A broken door, damaged jamb, or torn-off trim would mean repairs—and someone would have to pay for them.
Then I remembered the screwdriver in my back pocket.
With a little luck, patience, and careful prying, I was able to release the latch and escape from my basement bathroom tomb without damaging the door.
Lesson Learned
Check the doorknob from the outside of the room before closing the door.
Some inspection lessons come from books and training classes.
Others come from standing alone in a basement bathroom, wondering whether the screwdriver in your pocket is going to save the day.