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How To Explain Door Repair To Your Grandparents
How to Fix Common Door Repair Problems

Many door problems are easily fixed, especially if the work is performed by you. Sometimes, a task isn't possible without help.

The most common cause of stuck doors is that the hinges have to be re-tightened or moved. If the issue persists, you may need to sand or sand the latch side of your door.

Check the Door

As the weather gets cooler homeowners take this time to clean the yard and check their doors. This once-a year inspection should be a lookout for any damage and also reveal any areas which aren't working as they should.

Check for corrosion or rust on door hardware, including hinges, as well as on the frame. Also, look for broken or damaged weather stripping. This helps keep drafts from the home and stops air leaks that could cause a home to become less energy efficient.

Also note whether any doors are sticking, especially after a storm. A door that is difficult to open or close will wear faster and cost more to repair. This kind of issue could be caused by swollen wood, which occurs when humidity changes the amount of moisture in the door's wood. A simple test using an hygrometer can help pinpoint the cause of this problem.

If your door is swelling and you are unable to close it, you can make use of a screwdriver to tighten the hinge screws. If the issue persists, then you can try to shimm the hinges or replace them altogether.

It's important to check the door for cosmetic damage. While minor scratches and dents are to be expected but any damage that wasn't there before should be fixed.


While it's possible to repair a door that has a large crack, any cracks in the wood should be filled and painted as soon as possible to avoid any further issues. Any wood rot needs to be replaced to ensure the strength of the structure. It is best to contact an expert in door systems when you find significant structural issues. They will evaluate the damage and make any necessary repairs.

Then tighten the Hinges

It's normal for door hinge screws to loosen over time However, if you let them too long it can cause damage to the hinge, and the screw holes to become stripped. The screws can be tightened by hand or using a power drill. Be cautious not to bend the hinge of your door and then remove the pins.

Find the sticking points first and then decide what you'll do. If the door rubs on the top or drags, you can countersink a long screw onto the latch side of hinge (the side that is attached to the strike plate). This will make the gap bit larger and usually solves the issue.

A more drastic approach is to simply remove the hinge pins, then hammer them out so that they're more dispersed, which will also solve the issue. However, this isn't recommended since it can cause damage to the hinge, and should only be done if the door isn't shut properly.

A stripped screw hole, or a sagging doorframe could also cause the screw to not tighten. If this is the case, simply insert a wood plug or match that has been soaked in carpenter's glue into the screw hole and allow it to set before reattaching the hinge. This will fill in the hole and strengthen the area to allow the screw to be held in place. Repeat this procedure for any remaining holes that do not tighten. Close the door, and check to see whether it has shut properly. If not, you'll need to continue troubleshooting the issue. It is recommended to start with the simplest solutions first and then move on to more involved repairs when necessary.

Change the Hinges

If the gap between the jamb and door is too large (a condition referred to as toe-in) Shimming the hinges can help the door hang straight. You can do this by placing a small piece cardboard or wood on the hinge that is jamb-side, and then adding two or three wooden shims between the hinges and the door frame. The shims will push the leaf of the hinge away from the door frame to close the gap, eliminating the bind that caused the issue.

This technique can be a bit tricky however if you're careful you can complete the task without causing damage to the hinge or door. Shimming is most effective if the existing screws are removed from each hinge first. (Knowledge How to Remove the Pin From the Door Hinge). This could mean removing the door off its hinges in order to prevent them from coming loose.

Once the hinges are shifted, you'll need to close and open the door a few times to make sure that they're working correctly. If the door doesn't stay in place then you can use shims to close the gap between the hinge and the door.

You can also fix the binding hinge of a door by increasing the size of the mortise. This is accomplished by scraping the hole out with a chisel, and then filling it with wood putty. Make sure to paint and sand the putty before putting it on the hinge to match the rest of the frame. It's not as accurate as shimming, but it's a quick fix for a hinge that isn't aligned. It's also less destructive than trying to fix the door.

Draw in the Jamb

If your door is still stuck after the hinges have been pushed tight and shimming them the jamb could be out of alignment. It is possible to fix this by gently tapping wooden shims between the jamb and the wall at the latch side the frame to bring it back to level. Make sure you take measurements of the shims using a carpenter's square and move them around the frame until they are aligned on both sides of the frame.

Once you've shimmed the door frame and tightened the screws that secure the strike plate on the latch side of the frame to stop it from scraping against the latch. You can use either the manual Phillips screwdriver or a drill to accomplish this, based on the scope of the damage.

Occasionally, dents, nicks and gouges within the frame could cause it to become a binder against the door. If it's only small dents, you can smooth the surface using wood filler that is the same color as the trim around the door and then sand it down prior to staining or painting. For more severe dents and gouges, you might need to replace the damaged portion of the jamb.

If you've tried sanding or filling but your door is still to get stuck, it's time to remove the door and start working on the frame from scratch. If you can afford it, you should replace the components and do it correctly. However, you may be able to save the door by working on a small portion of the frame without having to remove the whole frame. Be sure not to damage the strength of the frame, especially if you're dealing with wood that has been exposed to moisture over time.

Adjust the Strike Plate

The strike plate grabs the door bolt and holds the door in a closed position. Over time the strike plate could be unbalanced. If the latch does not fit into the strikeplate, it will not close, which could lead to burglaries and door kick-ins. A quick fix for this is to simply tighten the screws that hold the strike plate. If this doesn't work, you can try shimming or adding wood fill to the hinges.

Apply a thin strip of lipstick or other marking material on the latch prior to adjusting strike plate. Close the door, and then open it. If the lipstick marks show that the latch is contacting above or below the strike plate's hole, it may be a problem with sagging hinges rather than the strike plate's location.

If the marks indicate that the latch is resting too high or low in the strike plate hole, you can use small pieces of cardboard to fit into the hinge mortise and then replace the hinge. This is often a solution to the issue, particularly if it's caused by the sunken or hinges that are recessed or sunken. double glazing windows repairs can also make it easier to create an attractive repair.

To adjust the strikeplate, remove it from the jamb of your door. Then, you can use an appropriate file to mark the hole in which the strikeplate is intended to be. A half-round file is the best, as it matches the curvature of the hole to accommodate the strike plate. Reinstall the strike plate close the door and examine if the latch now clearing the strike plate hole correctly. If the latch is not clearing the hole then use a chisel alter the shape of the jamb that faces the strike plate.

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