Solving Door Problems

Loose hinges are the most common door problem. Loose hinges cause the door not to hang right and then they will rub and stick together throwing off the latch mechanism.  Check the hinge screws first. If they are tight but the door still rubs, try sanding down the door’s edge and make it smooth. If you notice that the door doesn’t close easily, it may be warped; you can use a long straightedge to check for warpage. If it is slightly warped you may be able to straighten it with weights, but if it’s really bad, you’ll need a new door. Door latch problems happen for a lot of reasons: loose hinges, swollen wood, sticking latchbolts, and paint buildup.  After you have tried all of the above and the door still won’t shut, it’s probably because the door frame is off. This happens because the house is getting older and it is settling. you can make minor adjustments by filing the strike plate on the door frame. If you have room, align the latchbolt and strike plate by shimming the  hinges. Or, you can drive a few extra-long screws to adjust the frame.

Related posts:

  1. Door Latch Installation
  2. Replacing Your Front Door
  3. Rectifying Sticking Doors
  4. Garage Doors
  5. How to detect Foundation Problems

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