Will the doors ever dry out?

[lago]

I have two doors that were totally submerged for about 7 days during the flooding in Central Texas a week or so ago. The doors have expanded a bit and will not close properly without a little extra push. One door will not close enough for the security system.

The doors are metal but I found out that the core is wood frame w/particle core.

Still waiting for lower humidity and sunshine so I can put them outside and hopefully dry out.

These are outside of the air conditioned area of the house and I am thinking that perhaps the a/c will help remove some of the moisture. Another option I am thinking of is to put them in front of a heater and try to dry them out.

Any other suggestions?? I don't want to take a plane to the doors, even though about 1/16" or so would probably be enough.

TIA

Ken

[gwyneth]

One thing you can do is train a fan or two on them. The faster the air movement, the faster the evaporation.

Air conditioners are good for dehumidifying, better with a fan.

Dehumidifiers also now range in price between $20 for little closet units (Amazon) and $2000.

When we lived in Florida, each of the three or four times the Gulf of Mexico flooded into the house we kept fans on throughout the house for the next month or two, just to make sure no moisture was lurking anywhere.

[Popeye]

My experience with particle board is once it's wet and swells it will never return to it's original thickness. Maybe being incased in metal will make a difference but... Not what you want to hear .... Pat

[cabinetman]

Popeye is right on. Not to rain on your parade (looks like it did already), but particle board and water make an expanding cereal. You probably can't save it. If it is either particle board or MDF, a onetime soaking is the end of it. In fact, if it got soaked, you probably wouldn't be able to lift it. As for swelling, I've seen PB countertops push sinks right out of the openings.

Even if the door did dry out, the core would be destroyed.
.

[scorrpio]

Yeah, and if flooding is likely to be an issue in the future, I'd consider fiberglass replacements...

And if you take a plane to these door, wouldn't steel casing ruin the plane?

[TheRic]

The swelling might have permanently warped, bulged the metal casing.

Try drying it and hoping for the best.