Notes

Some Wisdom On Door Repair From An Older Five-Year-Old
How to Fix Common Door Repair Problems

Many door issues can be easily fixed particularly if the work is done by you. Sometimes, a project isn't feasible without help.

A door that is stuck could be caused by the hinges being too tight or loose. If the problem continues, you may need to sand or sand the latch side of your door.

Check the Door

Many homeowners clean up their yards and inspect their doors when the weather cools. The annual inspection should not only check for signs of damage but also reveal any areas that aren't working as they should.

Find corrosion and rust on door hardware such as hinges, and on the frame. Check for damaged or broken weather stripping. This keeps drafts out of your home and prevents air leaks, which can cause a home to become less energy efficient.

Be aware of any doors that are sticking, especially after a storm. A stickier door is harder to open and close, which adds wear each time you use it and can lead to more expensive repairs later on. This kind of issue could be caused by swollen wood, which happens when humidity changes the moisture content in the door's wood. A simple test using the aid of a hygrometer will help determine the root of the problem.

If your door is becoming swollen and you are unable to close it, you can use a screwdriver to tighten the hinge screws. If the problem persists you may try shimming your hinges or replacing them.

It is important to examine the door for cosmetic damage. While minor dents and scratches are common over time, any serious damage that was not there prior to the repair should be addressed as soon as possible.

While upvc window repairs is sometimes possible to fix doors that have a large crack, any cracks in the wood should be filled and painted as soon as possible to prevent further problems. To ensure structural integrity wood rot, it should be replaced. If you notice significant structural issues with doors, it's recommended to call a trained door systems technician to assess and repair any damage that is required.

Tighten the Hinges

Door hinge screws may loosen over time. If you leave them unattended, they may damage the hinge or damage the screws' holes. The screws can be tightened manually or using the aid of a power drill. Be careful not to bend the hinge and then remove the pins.

Find the sticking points first, and then decide what to do. If the door rubs against the top or drags, you can countersink a long screw into the latch side of the hinge (the side that is connected to the strike plate). This will widen the gap and will usually resolve the issue.

The most drastic option is to simply take out the hinge pins and hammer them out until they're more spread apart which will also resolve the issue. This is not recommended as it could damage the hinge. It should only be done when the door does not close properly.

Another possible issue is a screw that doesn't close, which could result from a sagging screw hole or sagging doorframe. In this situation, insert the wood plug (or match) dipped into carpenter's adhesive into the screw hole. Let it dry before reattaching the hinge. This will fill the hole and reinforce the area so that the screw can hold the screw. Repeat this procedure for any holes that aren't tightening. Then close the door and test to see if it now shuts correctly. If the issue continues then you might need to keep attempting to solve the issue. Start with the easiest solutions and then make more complicated repairs if needed.

Shift the Hinges

Shimming hinges can be utilized to help the door hang straight when the gap between the jamb and the door frame is too large (a condition called toe-in). This can be done by placing a small bit of cardboard or wood beneath the hinge on the jamb side, and then adding one or more thin, wooden shims between the hinge and the frame of the door. The shims push the hinge leaf away from the door frame and close the gap, eliminating the binding.

It's a tricky method, but with a little caution, you can accomplish it without causing harm to the door or hinge. Shimming is most effective when the existing screws are removed from each hinge first. (Knowledge: How to Remove the Pin from a Door Hinge). This may require prying the door off its hinges in order to keep them from slipping off.


Once the hinges have been shifted and the door is closed, you'll have to shut and open the door several times to make sure that they're functioning correctly. If the door doesn't stay in place then you can use shims to close the gap between the hinge and the door.

Another method to correct the hinge's binding is to make the mortise bigger. This can be accomplished by scraping out the hole with an axe and then filling it in with wood putty. To match the frame's rest make sure to sand the putty, then paint it prior to applying it to the hinge. It's not as accurate as shmming but it's a simple fix for an out-of-alignment hinge. It's less damaging than hanging the door again.

Draw in the Jamb

If your door still sticks after the hinges have been pushed tight and shimming them the jamb could be out of line. This can be fixed by tapping gently on wooden shims at the latch side to the frame between the jambs and the wall. Take measurements of the shims with the carpenter's square and then move them around the frame to ensure that they are in line.

After you have shimmied the door frame, you can tighten screws that hold the strikeplate to the latch side to prevent it from rubbing against the latch. You can employ the manual Phillips screwdriver or a drill, based on the severity of damage.

Sometimes, dents, gouges and nicks within the frame can cause it to stick against the door. If it's just small scratches, you can smooth the surface with wood filler that matches the color of the trim around the door, and then sand it prior to staining or painting. For deeper dents and gouges, it may be necessary to replace the damaged portion of the jamb.

If your door is still stuck after filling, sanding, or refining the frame, it might be time to get rid of the entire door and start from scratch. If you can afford it, it's recommended to replace the parts and do it correctly. However, you might be able save the door if you work on small pieces of the frame without removing the whole frame. Be careful not to damage the strength of the rest of the frame, especially when you're working with wood that's been exposed to humidity over time.

Adjust the Strike Plate

The strike plate is used to hold the door in its closed position by catching the bolt that holds the door. Over time the strike plate may become unbalanced. If the latch is not able to fit into the strikeplate, it will not close, which can result in burglaries and door kick-ins. To fix this issue, tighten the screws that hold the strike plate. If this doesn't work you, try shifting or adding wood fill to the hinges.

Before adjusting the strike plate, apply a strip of lipstick or a similar marking substance to the latch. Close the door and then open it. If the lipstick marks show that the latch is touching between the strike plate hole it could be an issue with sagging hinges, rather than the strike plate's location.

If the marks suggest that the latch is too high or low in the strike plate hole, you can use small pieces of cardboard to fit into the mortise of the hinge and then replace the hinge. This is often a way to fix the issue caused by sunken hinges. This makes it easier to do a professional-looking repair.

To adjust the strikeplate, remove it from your door jamb. Then use a file on the hole where the strikeplate is supposed to be. A half-round file is ideal since it conforms to the shape of the strike plate's hole. Install the strike plate, close the door and check if the latch is now clearing the strike plate hole properly. If the latch does not clear the hole then use the chisel on the jamb to reshape it where the strike plate is positioned to meet the jamb.

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