door panel shrinkage

[tgm]

A few facts of life are that wood moves and concrete cracks and you can't completely stop either one.
When we do frame and panel work we pre-stain the edges as mentioned above prior to assy. When that can't be done you try and lower the humidity to allow the panel to shrink slightly prior to staining. If you could time the building of the doors to the winter time they are the smallest they are going to be and wil swell in the other seasons eliminating the line.
If you purchase doors, as all of us have at one time, you area at the mercy of the wood and the seasons.
You can touchup as required once it shrinks but other than that there is no exact, permanent solution.

Good Luck,

Tom in PA

[gerryv]

Newbie question: Would it be correct to assume that going with somewhat wider stiles and thus, narrower panels, would help to reduce the problem, although I'm sure there would be a point where aesthetics would come into play. I'm assuming that's why full size doors have side by side panels.

[kevin]

Two cents
Tell the customer that wood can shrink there might be a white line .Its not lost reputation its imposible to stop wood movement

Most times when install in the winter the wood has shrink so we dont have an issue .When we install in the summer the doors are at the highest or widest.I just send some one with a touch it up with a brush .The ood thing is some doors need it some don't

The tip I will share to make it less notibale .Is that I use water based polythurane when the panel moves it streches with the wood

Laquer is brittle and leaves a white line or ridge .The ridge sticks out like a sore thumb

Here its more brutle a lot of electric heat sometimes we heat in June

[wberminio]

I have taken Kevin's approach.
Letting the client ahead of time has been extremely helpful.
There are no surprises for the client

[Allen Wagner]

Try staining the panels before you assemble the doors.

[gc3]

Newbie question: Would it be correct to assume that going with somewhat wider stiles and thus, narrower panels, would help to reduce the problem, although I'm sure there would be a point where aesthetics would come into play. I'm assuming that's why full size doors have side by side panels.

no, that will not solve the problem. if you do not allow movement for the panel the door could possible break at the stile/rail joint. woodweb has a formula based on rh/specie/thickness which is very helpful

[gerryv]

Thanks much Jim & Scott