Trouble Closing the Door? Try Our Fixes for Misaligned Hinges and Frames

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:

1. Gather Your Tools - It's difficult to know exactly which tools you will need before making a diagnosis (the very next step), but if you gather all the following, you'll be well prepared for most eventualities:

• Screwdrivers
• Screws
• Drill
• Chisel
• Spirit level
• Plane

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.

1. Make a Diagnosis - Most problems with doors not closing can be traced back to an issue with the hinges or the door frame. However, sometimes there's another underlying issue that is stopping the door from closing, so it's important to start with a thorough inspection. Look out for loose hinge screws/plates, a lack of space between the door and its frame, parts of the door hitting the frame and anything else that doesn't look quite right.

1. Fix the Issues You Identify - Once you’ve established why your door won’t close, you can get on with the serious business of fixing it. The best approach will, of course, depend on the precise issue you’re faced with and the type of door that is causing all the trouble. But whatever the nature of the problem, we find a methodical approach always pays dividends. Never rush a hinge realignment or frame repair because when mistakes are made, the cost of remedial repairs can be quite staggering.

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.

Common Door Misalignment Issues and How to Fix Them

Among the most commonly encountered misalignment issues that can prevent a door from closing are the following:

Foundations Settling (No Space Between Top of Door and Frame)

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.

Door Always Swings Open (Hinges Too Far Apart)

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.

Latch-Side Edge of Door Sticking to Frame (Loose Screws in Top Hinge Plate)

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.