Why Doors Swell and Stick in Humid Florida Weather

Why Do Doors Swell and Stick in Florida, and How Do You Fix It?

If you’ve lived in Florida for any length of time, you’ve dealt with a door that suddenly won’t close right. It worked fine in January, but now in July it’s dragging on the frame and you have to force it shut. This is one of the most common (and most annoying) issues in humid climates.

The good news: it’s usually fixable without replacing the door.

Key Takeaways

• Wood doors absorb moisture from humid air, causing them to swell and stick
• Solid wood doors are most affected; engineered and hollow-core doors are more stable
• The fix often involves planing, sanding, or adjusting hinges rather than replacing the door
• Sealing all six sides of a wood door (top, bottom, both edges, both faces) prevents moisture absorption
• Maintaining consistent indoor humidity (40-50%) reduces seasonal swelling

Why Do Wood Doors Swell in Humidity?

Wood is hygroscopic, which means it absorbs and releases moisture. Florida’s humidity makes this a year-round issue from the surrounding air. When humidity rises, the wood cells absorb water and expand. When humidity drops, they release moisture and shrink.

In Florida, where outdoor humidity regularly exceeds 80% and indoor humidity can climb if the AC isn’t keeping up, wood doors take on enough moisture to expand noticeably. Even a fraction of an inch of swelling can turn a properly fitting door into one that sticks, drags, or won’t latch.

The expansion isn’t uniform. Wood swells more across the grain than along it, so doors typically get wider rather than taller. That’s why sticking is most common along the latch side or the top edge.

Which Doors Are Most Affected?

Solid wood doors: The most vulnerable. More wood means more material to absorb moisture. If the door isn’t properly sealed on all surfaces (including the top and bottom edges, which are often left bare), humidity has a direct path in.

Exterior doors: These face the worst conditions because they’re exposed to outdoor humidity on one side and AC-cooled dry air on the other. That differential causes uneven swelling and can lead to warping.

Bathroom doors: The steam from showers creates a localized humidity spike that hits the door repeatedly.

Engineered and hollow-core doors: Less affected because they have less solid wood to absorb moisture. But they’re not immune. The edge banding and veneer can still swell, and if moisture gets into a hollow-core door, the internal structure can deteriorate.

How Do You Fix a Sticking Door?

Before grabbing a saw, start with the simplest fixes.

Check the hinges: Loose hinge screws are the most overlooked cause of sticking doors. Tighten all screws. If the screw holes are stripped, remove the screw, insert a wooden toothpick or golf tee with wood glue into the hole, let it dry, then re-drive the screw.

Identify where it’s sticking: Close the door slowly and watch where it contacts the frame. Mark those spots with painter’s tape or a pencil.

Sand or plane the sticking area: For minor sticking (catching slightly), sanding with 80-grit sandpaper may be enough. For more significant sticking, use a hand plane or a belt sander to remove material from the edge. Remove small amounts at a time. You can always take off more, but you can’t put it back.

Seal after adjusting: Any freshly sanded or planed area exposes bare wood. Seal it with paint, primer, or polyurethane immediately. Leaving bare wood exposed in Florida humidity is just inviting the problem to come back.

How Do You Prevent Doors from Swelling?

Seal all six sides: Most doors are painted or finished on the front and back but left bare on the top and bottom edges. That’s where moisture gets in. Before installing a new door or after any repair, prime and paint or seal all six surfaces.

Maintain indoor humidity: Keep your AC running consistently. Set-it-and-forget-it is better than cycling it on and off. Target 40% to 50% indoor humidity. Our preventative maintenance guide covers the full climate-control checklist.

Use exhaust fans: Run the bathroom exhaust fan during and after showers to keep localized humidity from attacking the door.

Consider fiberglass or composite for exterior doors. Pair this with the energy-efficient upgrades in our guide for maximum savings: If you’re replacing an exterior door, fiberglass and composite options look like wood but don’t swell, warp, or rot. They cost more upfront but save headaches long-term in Florida.

When Should You Replace Instead of Repair?

Replace the door if: it’s warped (twisted or bowed) rather than just swollen, the core material has deteriorated (soft spots, crumbling), the door has been shaved down so much that there’s no longer adequate clearance for the latch or hinges, or the frame itself is damaged.

A warped door can sometimes be corrected with weight and time (lay it flat with weight on the high spots), but this is hit-or-miss. If the warp is more than about 1/4 inch, replacement is usually the more practical option.

Common Questions

Will my door go back to normal when the humidity drops?
Sometimes. If the swelling is mild and the door was properly sealed before, it may shrink back when the dry season arrives. But if bare wood was exposed, or if the door absorbed significant moisture, it may not fully return to its original dimensions.

Can I plane a door without removing it?
For the hinge side or small areas, yes. A hand plane with the door still hung works for minor adjustments. For the bottom edge, you’ll need to remove the door. Pop the hinge pins out (start with the bottom hinge), lay it on sawhorses, and work on it flat.

Is this a problem I can fix myself?
Tightening hinges and light sanding are straightforward DIY tasks. Using a hand plane takes a bit of practice to avoid removing too much material. If you’re not confident, or if the door needs more than a minor adjustment, a handyman can handle it quickly.

What We Do and What We Don’t Do

Best Bay Services handles: door adjustment and repair, door hanging and installation, hinge replacement, planing and sanding, weatherstripping, and general door maintenance across the Tampa Bay area, including Valrico, Brandon, Riverview, and Tampa.

We don’t do: custom door fabrication, structural framing repair, or full entryway remodels. For those, we’ll refer you to a licensed contractor.

Doors sticking in the summer heat? Best Bay Services gets them working right for Tampa Bay homeowners. Get a free estimate.