Door repair in East Falls
East Falls sits along the Schuylkill River and Fairmount Park, with hilly streets and a mix of stone twins, brick rows and porch-front houses.
AThe setting
East Falls lies in northwest Philadelphia beside the Schuylkill, close to Fairmount Park, with Ridge Avenue and Henry Avenue as main routes. Streets climb, and many houses sit above the sidewalk and are reached by steps and porches, with stone retaining walls and stone or brick fronts.
BDoor issues common here
Porch doors
Covered porches protect doors from rain but can hold moisture and shade. Look for peeling paint and soft spots at the bottom.
Steps and slope
On a slope, water runs toward the house. Check that steps and porch floors pitch away from the door.
Settling stone
Stone and brick walls settle slowly. Doors in them can bind seasonally even after good repairs.
CWhat repair usually involves
- Resetting hinges and strike plates after the house moves.
- Splicing or epoxy-filling a soft threshold.
- Adding a drip cap or sill pan to shed water.
- Replacing weatherstripping that has hardened with age.
DPlanning the work
Because many East Falls houses sit up a flight of steps, carrying a new threshold or a long board is easy, but moving a whole door can be harder. Ask for a clear statement of what will be done on site and what will be taken to a shop for repair.
EOfficial local sources
These outside pages are worth a look before you hire anyone for work in East Falls.
?Questions people ask
Can a door be repaired in a shop?
Some repairers take the door to a shop for repair and re-hang it later, but you need a secure temporary cover for the opening.
Do I need a permit for threshold repair?
Ordinary repair does not. Changing an opening does. Ask L&I when unsure.
Is lead paint likely?
In houses built before 1978, it is possible.