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Fix Ladder · Level 1: First Wins

Door Sticks, Rubs or Won't Latch

Most sticking doors are loose hinges, not a bad door. Start with the easy fix.

Level 110 to 45 min
Question

What's the door doing?

The Fix

Tighten the hinge screws

Doors usually stick because hinge screws loosen over time and the door sags toward the latch side. Difficulty: Level 1: First Wins. Plan on 10 to 45 min.

Already have everything? Jump to instructions ↓
Multi-Bit Screwdriver
One handle, every common bit. The first tool most homes need.
3-Inch Wood Screws
Long enough to reach the framing behind a door hinge and pull a sagging door back into place.

Affiliate links: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Buying through these links costs you nothing extra. Prices and availability are shown on the store's site, and you can buy these anywhere.

1

Open the door and tighten every hinge screw, on both the door and the frame. The top hinge matters most.

2

If a screw just spins, the hole is stripped. Replace one screw in the top hinge's frame side with a 3-inch screw. It reaches the framing and pulls the door up and back into place.

3

Close the door and check the gap along the top and latch side.

Did that fix it?
The Fix

Shave the rub spot

If tightened hinges don't solve it, the door or frame has swollen or shifted, and a little wood needs to come off where it rubs. Difficulty: Level 1: First Wins. Plan on 10 to 45 min.

Already have everything? Jump to instructions ↓
Block Plane
Shaves a sticking door edge a little at a time.
Optional (1): nice to have, not required
Fine Sanding SpongesOptional
Smooths dried filler without gouging the wall around it.

Affiliate links: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Buying through these links costs you nothing extra. Prices and availability are shown on the store's site, and you can buy these anywhere.

1

Close the door on a piece of chalk or mark where it rubs. Look for the shiny or worn spot.

2

Take the door off by tapping the hinge pins up and out.

3

Plane or sand the marked area a little at a time, checking the fit as you go.

4

Seal the bare wood with primer or paint so it doesn't swell again in humid weather.

Did that fix it?
Question

Is there new flooring, a rug or a raised threshold under it?

The Fix

Make room at the bottom

New flooring, thick rugs and raised thresholds take away the gap a door needs to swing freely. Difficulty: Level 1: First Wins. Plan on 10 to 45 min.

Already have everything? Jump to instructions ↓
Block Plane
Shaves a sticking door edge a little at a time.
Optional (1): nice to have, not required
25-Foot Tape MeasureOptional
Measure twice, buy once.

Affiliate links: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Buying through these links costs you nothing extra. Prices and availability are shown on the store's site, and you can buy these anywhere.

1

If it's a rug, move it or choose a thinner one.

2

If it's new flooring, the door needs trimming. Remove it, mark the cut line, and trim with a plane for small amounts. A larger trim is a saw job for a confident DIYer or a carpenter.

3

Seal the cut edge before rehanging.

Did that fix it?
The Fix

Line up the latch and strike plate

A latch misses when the door sags or the strike plate sits a little high or low. Difficulty: Level 1: First Wins. Plan on 10 to 45 min.

Already have everything? Jump to instructions ↓
Multi-Bit Screwdriver
One handle, every common bit. The first tool most homes need.

Affiliate links: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Buying through these links costs you nothing extra. Prices and availability are shown on the store's site, and you can buy these anywhere.

1

Tighten the hinge screws first. Sagging hinges are the most common reason a latch misses.

2

Rub lipstick or a marker on the latch, close the door, and see where it hits the strike plate.

3

If it's a little off, file the strike plate opening. If it's well off, move the strike plate to line up.

Did that fix it?
Stop here

Stop: have the structure checked

Several doors sticking at once along with new cracks in walls or ceilings can mean the house is settling or the foundation is moving.

Planing doors won't fix that. Have a contractor or structural engineer look at it first.

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