ᐅ PVC balcony door warped: How to temporarily seal a 4 mm gap?

Hello everyone,
We have two plastic balcony doors installed in 1998. Over the years, they have developed a noticeable bulge. In the middle (measured from top to bottom), there is a 4mm (about 0.16 inches) larger gap between the door and frame than at the top and bottom (see pictures).

I was wondering why there is a draft in the living room and then realized you can actually see outside through the gap 🤨

Ideally, the windows including the roller shutters (which are also worn out) and the front door should be replaced, but financially that is not possible in the near future. Therefore, I’m looking for a short-term solution to seal this gap as effectively as possible.

The only thing that comes to mind is sealing with Tesa Moll, although sealing such a 4mm (0.16 inches) difference will be challenging.

Does anyone know a good solution? Is this a common issue?

Thanks & best regards
JanStu8

Sealing is a quick fix; please address the underlying cause.

But what could be the cause, @tomtom79? And how can this be resolved without installing new windows or doors?

First, I would try adjusting the door properly. There’s not much more you can do wrong when setting it. I’m not sure if that will help with the warping, though.

Modern doors and windows are secured at multiple points to the frame. That doesn’t seem to be the case with yours, but maybe a window fitter could retrofit this without having to replace everything extensively.

Perhaps @11ant, as a window expert, can provide some insight.

Musketier schrieb:

First, I would try to adjust the door properly. It’s hard to adjust it incorrectly anymore. Whether that will help with the warping, I’m not sure.

I have to take the original poster’s word about the warping because these pictures don’t really allow for a proper assessment.

Musketier schrieb:

Modern doors and windows are secured to the reveal at several points. That doesn’t seem to be the case with yours, but maybe a window specialist could retrofit that without having to replace everything extensively.
Perhaps @11ant, as a window expert, can add something here.

Wood moves, and apparently faux wood does too, haha. In winter, it’s probably best to do nothing at all since the material is most brittle then, making any attempts to reshape it impossible. In March, when farmers harness the horses, you could have a window specialist come for adjustments. And then, immediately—even in summer!—stop the habit of leaving the window in tilt position, which is likely causing the damage pattern. You might want to ask the member "profil" over at the Green forum.

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11ant schrieb:

In March, when the farmer harnesses the horses, that’s when you can have a window installer come to make adjustments.

I don’t understand what exactly can be adjusted there. Is it really possible to remove that warping from the door? If so, I would have a window installer come after winter.

11ant schrieb:

And then immediately stop the practice of permanently tilting the windows—even during summer! That is probably what caused the damage.

We hardly ever tilt them 🙂 But we've only been living here since 2019, so I don’t know what was done with the windows in the 21 years before that...

Thanks & best regards
Jan