door strengthening

[mizzou]

i need my patio double doors strengthened. The door is straight, probably mdf w/ steel covering...but the too and bottom corners flex too much when you push on them.

I was thinking about getting some thin steel in a bar and then drill it into the side of the door... Its the handle side.

Those door armor kits are way too expensive

 

[mindless1]

Has it gotten worse like it is rotting inside or something? Any rust forming from the inside out? I would imagine just wood strips along the perimeter, foam core for the rest, as an entire door of solid MDF core is heavy, expensive for most residential applications. Maybe a pic(s) of the door would help.

If it's rotting out then the generic answer is get a new door. I don't know if you'd have any luck trying to dry it out and inject some epoxy in.

Certainly adding steel would fortify it, though might look a little ghetto, though better if painted to match the door. It would need a fair thickness and since it's the corners, are you going to overlap them? You could try something ready-made called a "mending plate" though I don't know where to get especially thick ones.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2pc...epair-Plate-Connector-Corner/32760064244.html

 

[Micrornd]

It sounds as though you have a perimeter frame of MDF with a steel covering, right?
Can you see the MDF (a steel faced door) or is it hidden by the steel (a steel wrapped door)?
It sounds as though the MDF has deteriorated (maybe from water intrusion) or broken near the corners (is the frame or door bowed at all vertically)?
You would need to determine which to repair it, or the alternative is to replace the door.
And as mindless1 said, pics would definitely help.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Consider the age of the doors. Patio doors seem to need replacing more than other doors for some reason... (perhaps water splashing up from the deck or just exposure to the elements)

I suggest calling up one of those companies that will give you custom quotes on pre-hung doors and ask them for a detailed quote with all the measurements... Then really shop around...look on the secondary markets for overstocks or whatever you can find that will fit and rip out the whole door/frame and replace it. You'll likely end up with a better result than trying to reinforce the existing door. I feel like they've started making these fabricated doors and windows better in the past 5-10 years.

 

[mizzou]

I never updated this, but the doors are completely rotted on the inside, so it's not worth any effort to strengthen them

Shopping for replacements! ugh

 

[Greenman]

Look at rogue valley doors, American made.

 

[Mike Hesson]

You should go for changing the doors...fixing it will again cause issue in future as it is damaged already..try new one..it will great for you..and use wooden as it look beautiful..