Is there hope for repairing the extensively damaged central post between swinging doors after attempting various fixes on the exterior damaged wood?
Asked by Flenn Frazier 
5 months ago
Last Updated: August 10, 2024
So, I was checking out the area around the double doors leading to the deck and noticed some serious damage behind the vinyl siding. The wood was all damp and rotting, so I did my best to scrape out the bad stuff, spray it with termite and carpenter ant killer, wait a day, clean it up, and fill it with expanding foam to keep the pests away. It was looking pretty good until I discovered a problem with the center post between the doors. I cut away a bit of the exterior to assess the damage and, turns out, the whole post is compromised. Do you think it’s possible to fix it or is it a lost cause?
Inspectors won’t catch everything – that’s just how it goes sometimes! The joys of homeownership, right? You start with a small fix and end up doing a whole remodel 😆
P.S. French doors have a bad rep for leaking and rotting. Swap in a sliding glass door instead!
Thanks a lot, !
Your comment really resonated with me as I recently decided against purchasing a home because I didn’t want to start down the path of endless projects. Funny enough, here I am now, spending over a decade restoring a late 1800s home in Maine. It’s been nearly 40 years since then, and my energy levels aren’t what they used to be. I tried reaching out to 3-4 recommended contractors, but none of them called back, so it’s back to DIY. It’s all about having the right tools and patience, not rocket science.
Home inspections are usually non-invasive. They can only inspect what is visible. This is not related to a home inspection. Even if you bought a moisture meter, it is used near showers and plumbing. It would not be helpful to scan solid wood for possible damage to inner wood.
My door had the same problem, but since the middle piece of wood was just for the latches, we simply removed the bottom and replaced it with a new piece of PT wood. It was an easy fix.
That’s exactly what I was hoping to hear- thanks! I wasn’t sure if it was supporting the structure. I just mentioned it during the inspection, not a big deal.
Hey, I just chopped off the bad part with a saw, found a scrap piece of wood that fit, put it in, and painted it white. Can you show me a picture of the whole door system opening and closing to make sure it’s not holding anything up?
Thank you
Yep, that’s a sponge. If you’re having trouble extending an awning, consider swapping it out with sliders or simply making sure it’s waterproofed properly.
Just wanted to give you an update on the post- unfortunately, the damage to the floor header is quite severe. It goes all the way into the crawl space. I took out a plank from the deck to see the extent of the damage, and ended up having to remove a lot of rotted wood. I’m not sure how far this damage goes in either direction. My initial thought was to reinforce the header with a sister-in-law, but I’m not sure what the next step should be.
Avoiding French doors!
Did you notice any flashing on your deck ledger? I’ve noticed that poorly flashed decks can cause the framing to rot. You might need to put up a temporary wall under that area and replace the rot.
Thanks for getting back to me- no flashing – I got rid of all the rotten wood, let it dry in the sun for a few days, used fans inside and out- treating the rest with RTG wood rot repair. Put in a 2×6 and wedges – planning to add new chipboard and vinyl flashing. Will likely replace the door and have them fix what’s underneath- they usually include that in their work. The picture shows the future look. I’ll foam in from the inside to seal tiny gaps and added termite granules just in case.
Exciting news! I have a new door on the way, which will also involve fixing the rotten wood beneath the door.