Doors that won't close properly or get stuck every time you try to open them are a real nuisance at the best of times and, in certain situations, may even compromise your safety. We should attend to these problem doors promptly, but hiring a professional handyman can be expensive, and DIY skills are often found wanting. As a result, many of us procrastinate. We choose to do nothing rather than spend money we can ill afford or risk making things worse with a botched amateur attempt. If this is the situation you find yourself in today, help is at hand! Continue reading this guide, and you'll soon discover the answers you seek.
If there is a door in your home that you've been meaning to fix for months, but you're not quite sure how to proceed, follow our step-by-step guide:
You should also find some sandpaper, shims, wood filler and a sharpened pencil before getting down to business. Having collected your tools, it’s time to inspect the door and find out why it won’t close.
For details on how to fix the most common door and doorframe misalignment issues, please refer to the section below. If you’d rather hire a professional to complete the work on your behalf, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Among the most commonly encountered misalignment issues that can prevent a door from closing are the following:
If during your visual inspection, you notice there is no space between the top of the door and the frame, and your house was new when you moved in, it could be due to the foundations settling. This settling can result in the tops of door frames ending up a millimetre or two lower than the architect intended, causing doors to rub against or stick to this part of the frame when someone attempts to close them.
The simplest way to fix a door that won’t close due to settling is to take it off the hinges, shave a fraction off the top and then rehang it.
If you can physically close a door but it always swings open again, this is almost certainly due to misaligned hinges. To correct the issue, you will need to unscrew the hinge plates and reinstall them closer together. This will require you to fill the old holes and drill new ones. If you’re not confident in your ability to do the work, we recommend hiring a professional instead.
If you notice the latch-side edge of the door rubbing against the frame or sticking to it, this is probably because the top hinge plate is coming loose (you may also notice the loose screws in the offending hinge plate during your inspection). The fix, fortunately, is relatively easy. Simply tighten the hinge plate screws, and your problems will be over.
Final Thoughts
There are a number of possible reasons for a door refusing to close, some of which are easier to fix than others. If you're fortunate, the solution to your problem can be found in the section above, and you'll find that you're easily capable of doing the necessary work. If you are not so fortunate, don't hesitate to get in touch. At Rock Solid Doors, we’re always happy to help.
