Home Repair forum - Storm Door Out of Alignment

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Storm Door Out of Alignment

jeffy3@hotmail.com

2005-08-30, 1:21 pm

We had a pella full-view storm door installed 18 months ago and for the
last several months it seems to be out of alignment. The rubber strip
on the bottom is rubbing the cement step and is starting to fall off,
and in order for the door to close all the way it needs to be pulled
shut. On the upper right corner (opposite of the hinges) there seems
to be a gap with light peeking through. The Pella website says to call
a technician with such problems but I was wondering if anyone here had
any suggestions.

Amun

2005-08-30, 2:21 pm

<jeffy3@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1125417072.063480.131800@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> We had a pella full-view storm door installed 18 months ago and for the
> last several months it seems to be out of alignment. The rubber strip
> on the bottom is rubbing the cement step and is starting to fall off,
> and in order for the door to close all the way it needs to be pulled
> shut. On the upper right corner (opposite of the hinges) there seems
> to be a gap with light peeking through. The Pella website says to call
> a technician with such problems but I was wondering if anyone here had
> any suggestions.
>

Something has shifted, either the door frame itself, or the wall.

Most often the mounting screws in the hinged side of the door work a bit
loose, and have to be tightened.

Can you lift the door and move it by hand ?
that will give you a clue.

More often than not, some kiddies were hanging on the handle and slightly
twisted things, as those doors are all fairly flimsy due to their nature.
And a lot of times all that is required is a pry bar under the low part and
"bending" it back up.

You just have to examine it yourself to see what's moved.

jeffy3@hotmail.com

2005-08-30, 2:21 pm

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I can lift it up into alignment. What
does that mean?

Edwin Pawlowski

2005-08-30, 2:21 pm

<jeffy3@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1125421135.749448.177070@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> Thanks for your reply. Yes, I can lift it up into alignment. What
> does that mean?

Probably something loose. Check to see that the hinges are screwed in
tightly.

Amun

2005-08-30, 3:21 pm

<jeffy3@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1125421135.749448.177070@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> Thanks for your reply. Yes, I can lift it up into alignment. What
> does that mean?
>

It means that something is moving /giving,
move the door and watch to see where the "play" is

Hinges?
Mounting screws?
Door jamb ?

Dave

2005-08-30, 6:21 pm

jeffy3@hotmail.com wrote in news:1125417072.063480.131800
@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

> We had a pella full-view storm door installed 18 months ago and for the
> last several months it seems to be out of alignment. The rubber strip
> on the bottom is rubbing the cement step and is starting to fall off,
> and in order for the door to close all the way it needs to be pulled
> shut. On the upper right corner (opposite of the hinges) there seems
> to be a gap with light peeking through. The Pella website says to call
> a technician with such problems but I was wondering if anyone here had
> any suggestions.
>
>

There was an interesting segment of Ask This Old House several months ago
about this problem. What happens is that the door becomes out of square.
The way they fixed it was to fix the door so it stays open, loosen all
the screws on the door corners, drive a wedge under the door frame until
the door is square again, then tighten all the screws again. You have to
build up a platform for the wedge to fit under the door while it is open
out of scrape wood or other stuff so that the thin end of the wedge will
just barely fit.

If your door has glass panels that slide up or down, move the panels so
the glass panels are closed. (Does that make sense?)

Hope this helps.

Dave

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