How to Fix Poorly Fitted Doors: Rid Your Home of Doors That Stick, Squeak, Crack, Pop and Groan

Poorly fitted doors lead to a number of common problems, ranging from minor annoyances to issues that could lead to significant financial losses over time. If you have a door that squeaks and groans, or worse still, sticks completely, you will find practical solutions to your problems in this guide. If gaps between doors and frames are causing drafts in your home, you can also locate the help you need below.

What’s the Problem?

If your problem is annoying squeaks or groans or a sticking door, the first thing you need to do is identify the root cause. If it’s something more obvious, such as a large gap between a door and its frame that’s causing a draught, you can proceed directly to the Solutions section below.

Diagnosing Noisy Doors

If  you need to identify the cause of a noisy door in your home, the following list will aid you in your quest:

• For Squeaky Doors – The majority of cases in which doors make squeaky noises when opened and closed can be traced back to the hinges. As the door moves, the components of the hinges rub against each other, creating the squeaks and squeals that annoy us so much.
• For Doors That Pop and Crack – If a door makes popping and cracking noises when opened and closed, it is usually because of unwanted contact between the door and its frame.
• For Doors That Creak and Groan – Only wooden doors tend to creak and groan with age. This is normally because of the natural contraction and expansion of the wood in reaction to changes in ambient temperature and humidity levels.

Older doors often make a variety of strange noises when opened and closed. However, unless you are experiencing issues with the operation of such a door, it’s normally nothing to worry about.

Diagnosing Stuck Doors

If an interior or exterior door is hard to open because it seems to be ‘sticking’ to the frame, there are several possible causes:

Misaligned Door – If your door was not hung properly in the first place, it may be out of alignment with the frame, causing it to stick against certain parts.

Sagging Hinges – Sometimes hinge screws work loose over time, resulting in sagging hinges.

Expansion Due to Humidity – Wooden doors can expand when humidity levels rise, especially if they have not been treated with a protective coating.

Another reason for doors sticking is down to poor DIY skills. If you decide to repaint an internal or external door, make sure you don't use too many coats, or it could end up sticking in the frame afterwards. It's also important to let the paint dry completely before closing the door again for the same reason.

Solutions

Once you have successfully identified the cause of the problem with your door (or doors) that needs to be resolved, it’s time to take action by implementing an effective solution.

• Lubricate Noisy Hinges – A short spray of WD-40 at the top of the hinge pins will eliminate squeaks and squeals in almost all cases.
• Install Weatherstripping to Fill Gaps Between Door and Frame – If the gaps between a door and its frame are causing draughts, install weatherstripping around the door.
• Tighten Loose Hinge Screws – In most cases, sagging hinges can be fixed by tightening the screws that affix them to the frame.
• Replace Groaning Doors – Replacing a wooden door with a composite or metal one is the fastest way to stop groaning and creaking.
• Reinstall Misaligned Doors – If a door is misaligned when installed, reinstalling it correctly will solve the issue.
• Lubricate Doors That Pop and Crack – Paraffin wax is an effective temporary fix for doors that pop and crack because they are rubbing against the door frame. For a permanent fix, either sand and repaint, adjust the hinge positions or reinstall from scratch.

In some cases, it is difficult to say which solution will work without inspecting the door in question, so if you are not sure, we recommend consulting an expert. An experienced professional will be able to diagnose the issue after a thorough visual inspection and recommend a cost-effective solution. You should only attempt to fix a noisy or sticking door if you are confident in your ability to complete the job.

Closing Thoughts

While some squeaky, creaky doors can easily be fixed by someone with basic DIY skills, others will require the attention of a professional. Others still may need replacing with a higher-quality door, such as those you will find at Rock Solid Doors. If this is the case, please browse our collection while enjoying a refreshing brew and don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance.