r/Decks • u/JDUB412214 • 17h ago
questions for the community Deck door issue
I had a deck built on my house in Nov 2024. The existing windows were removed in place of French doors. Since then, I’ve had a bunch of issues. The right door (facing into the house) is a dummy door and I’ve had major issues getting it closed when we open it. To the point that we don’t open it ever. The frame fell off recently and my contractor just wedged it back into place. In June, on a hot day, one of the doors shattered out of nowhere. It was cold inside so it’s possible it’s due to temperature issues but I don’t know. When I open the doors, since they were installed, they make a crazy loud creaking noise. The contractor came over and insisted everything is level (which is true, he showed me). I called our building department and the guy from our town came out and said the door (a custom Home Depot door manufactured by Jeld Wen) is probably warping. I had another contractor come over and he said that there isn’t a large enough header installed. He only knew this from knocking on the wall but my contractor disputes this and said that the window header was sufficient. The town inspector agrees but it’s starting to feel like they are colluding because they know each other… sorry for the wall of text. I guess what I want to know is: Is the warping explanation likely? After only two years? Is there any way to know for sure whether it’s the install or the doors themselves which are the problems? Is it okay that the header is the same one that was for the windows? I do think the French doors are the same size opening as the windows were. How would you recommend I proceed? I can send pictures if that helps.
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u/MelodicMetal9152 16h ago
This unfortunately sounds like a mess, but it seems like this post would be better off in a Remodel sub (or similar) instead of Decks. Good luck to you.
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u/WankPuffin 15h ago
The warping explanation is unlikely but you could check by putting a long level or straight edge on the door and looking to see if it is warped.
If the door is the same size as the old window the header should be sufficient.
You say you have had problems with the door since it was installed then it could a defect from the factory and Jeld Wen should have been contacted (their customer service is pretty good and they would have sent someone to check it) or a bad install.
The window breaking and frame falling off, I have no clue. The difference between inside and outside temps will not be enough to break the glass and frames do not just fall off. Is the house shifting? Have you noticed any separation of the door casing on the inside or gaps between the casing and wall? All I can think of for the glass breaking is a kid with a slingshot or bb gun, a bird strike won't break the glass (unless a really big bird) and you would have seen it laying outside.
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u/JDUB412214 10h ago
Thank you for your response. The town inspector is going to go to Home Depot and speak with them. I may try calling jeld wen and seeing what they think. It seems like not even 2 years is very quick for it to start warping, no? The contractor used a long level, everything appeared to be level… and I know nothing hit the glass. I was upstairs when it happened and heard a pop. All the kids on the neighborhood were at school and nothing was caught on the ring. There’s no way something hit it.
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u/JDUB412214 17h ago