Front Door And Frame Problem.

[gness]

My front door and the frame have suddenly started creaking....lots...and it's driving me nuts.
It's a door and long window to one side.....the door only was replaced about three years ago. No idea how old the frame is but looks fine.

There is also a slight movement when I lean against it. I don't know if that's new.....don't usually lean against the door.
Do I need a builder or is there anything I can do myself?

Thanks Gx

[gingejbee]

It might help if you mentioned the materials involved...wood, uPVC, aluminium even!
Any creaking I've encountered is from the hinges, not the door or frame per se.
Could it be, perhaps, your knees?

[Barsel]

....or perhaps you live in a haunted house? :-) x

[Baldric]

Good Luck with that ^^ ginge.

[gingejbee]

Oh dear....well how about trying a good spray of WD40.
On the hinges, NOT your knees.

[gness]

uPVC.......door and frame....not my knees.....and it's the frame not the hinges that makes the noise........☺

No, Barsel....the haunting comes from the dead watchmaker who worked in the spare room and it's more of a chiming and ticking.....not creaking...x

Ginge'll need more than luck, Baldric.....☻

[gingejbee]

oops...I'll try to redeem myself....
If the frame moves slightly when pushed, I'd try tightening the screws that hold the frame in place (possibly under some little round covers). You need quite a large screwdriver...or a friend/neighbour with one!

[gness]

Redeemed, Ginge...thank you.

I have found the screws under the little caps....and as I probably own more screwdrivers than the rest of the close put together I'll give that a go...

The worst noise seems to be coming from an internal bar that is between the door and full length window.
I can't see any screws there so I guess the bar is decorative and hiding the screws.....I'll do the whole frame first, then see if this bar comes off.

Thank you......☺

[gingejbee]

and let's know if it does the job!

[gness]

I will......once the gales die down.....x

[Tilly2]

On sunny days our south-facing upvc backdoor squeaks when we close it. It sound as if we are torturing a particularly large cat. It's very unnerving. Is you door south facing?

[bhg481]

It could be that the door frame is acting as a sounding board for a small noise from the hinges; it's certainly worth lubricating them anyway.

[gness]

Hi, Tilly and Bhg........the door is North facing and under a wide and deep sort of canopy so it's not weather related....other than the high wind is making the frame..or part of it move today.....and that's not happened before.

The hinges are fine.....they make no noise when the door is opened or closed... The noise is very loud and I can make it play a tune when I press on the central, internal bar which also moves a little in time with the tune I'm playing.........☺

[The Builder]

Two main reasons why hinges creak, Gness .............

Could be simply lubrication, as has already been said. WD40 should identify the problem for a short time. Better, would be graphite spray. The trouble is... for a long term solution, the hinges should be dismantled and greased with graphite..

The other cause is when the hinges become of of alignment. As you open or close the door, you're pulling "against" the way the hinge now wants to operate........ causing loud creaking.

It's certainly within your ample capabilities to adjust the hinges, but almost impossible to go through all that's involved from where I'm sitting ;o(

There are so many slightly different types. Each hinge has to be adjusted so that it co-operates with the others.

A regular builder would have to do what I would. That is, to fiddle about until I've found the adjusting screws etc... and keep fiddling with a load of trial and error.

Ideally, the best solution is to use a builder/handyman... anyone who's familiar with these. Any uPVC specialists in your area? Anyone who has done a few of these will most likely go right to it first time.

[The Builder]

All that typing.............. and the hinges are Ok ;o(

Right then ........... the whole door has dropped out of alignment. Same thing applies though. The re-adjustment is easy if you've done it before.

I hate having to say this to people who are perfectly capable, but it really is worth looking for a uPVC fitter :o)

[-Talbot-]

Is the side frame separate from the door?

[gness]

Evening, Mr Builder.......thank you....but it really isn't the hinges....I can open and close the door and they make no noise at all.....and all look fine... no rods dropping out.......

It sounds like PVC rubbing against PVC.....

If I am upstairs I can hear the door creaking....not squeaking but a really loud creak.... and I can now identify the noise is coming from the central bar.....don't know how to get that off yet but I think I will squirt it with WD40 in the joins and see what happens.....far to windy to work outside yet...... Gxxx

[gness]

Hi, Talbot......there is the large frame....on one side is the door then a central bar which protrudes into the hall then a full length window....all set into the large frame...x

[The Builder]

Right-ho ................. WD40 may help initially, but it does have a "swelling" effect on some plastics. This would be a better solution ...........

http://www.screwfix.com/p/floplast-silicone-spray-40ml/3290F?kpid=3290F&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-Sales%20Tracking-_-sales%20tracking%20url&cm_mmc=Google-_-Shopping%20-%20Heating%20and%20Plumbing-_-Shopping%20-%20Heating%20and%20Plumbing&gclid=COTdjPrH-ssCFUgq0wod4OkA5A

Squirt it all over the "touching" surfaces of the door ........ especially the rubber seals. Much better product for this kind of thing. I use silicone spray all the time for putting uPvc plumbing together.

[gness]

Oh heck...missed your second post, Mr Builder.....Talbot was standing in the way.....☺

Right......I have started slowly squirting WD40....oh it smells.....into the join above the door and window....
As I reached the part where the central bar ends and the long window begins the creaking started to quieten as I squirted the oil......
I've gone almost all along now and the creaking is much less.....only happens when I lean on it now.......thank the lord for the peace at last.......☺

There is still a little squeak rather than loud creak above the window but I'll need to take down the curtain so I can spray the join properly....

Thanks all for your help......the quiet is bliss.....drinks on me...xx

[-Talbot-]

Sounds like the central bar is moving probably a mechanical joint rather than welded.