Why doors stick and bind, and how they are fixed
A door that rubs or will not latch is usually telling you one of three things: the hinges have loosened, the wood has swollen or the frame has moved.
AFind where it rubs
Slide a thin piece of paper around the closed door to see where it grips. If it binds at the top near the latch side, the door has sagged on its hinges. If it binds along the whole latch edge, wood has swollen or the frame has shifted. Where paint has built up on the edges, the door can be tight on every side.
BRepairs from least to most work
- Tighten or lengthen hinge screwsLonger screws that reach the framing pull a sagging door back into place.
- Adjust the strike plateMoving the plate or filing the opening lets the latch catch.
- Sand or plane the binding edgeA small amount of wood is removed, then the raw edge is sealed with paint or finish so it does not swell again.
- Re-hang or shim the hingesShims behind a hinge change how the door sits in the frame.
- Reset the frameIf the frame has moved, it is shimmed and fastened to be square.
COlder house specifics
Settling
Century-old brick rowhouses have settled over time, and a door frame that is slightly out of plumb is common. Repair should work with the frame instead of forcing it.
Seasonal swelling
Philadelphia's humid summers make wood doors swell, and a door that sticks only in July may need nothing more than sealed edges.
Lead paint
Houses built before 1978 may have lead paint on door edges and frames. Planing and sanding can create lead dust, so ask for lead-safe practices.
DWhat to ask a repairer
- Will you trim the door or fix the cause, such as the hinges or frame?
- Will the cut edges be sealed so the door does not swell again?
- Is lead-safe work included for a house built before 1978?
- What happens if the frame itself needs work?
EKeep reading on this site
Rot at the threshold and jamb
Epoxy patches, splices and fixing the water source.
Hinges, strike plates and security
Longer screws, reinforced strikes and weatherstripping.
Door repair in Center City
Townhouse entries, transoms and historic review.
Door repair in East Falls
Hillside houses, porch entries and wet thresholds.
?Questions people ask
Should I just plane the door?
Only if swelling is the cause. If the hinges are loose or the frame has moved, planing makes the gap bigger in the wrong place.
Will WD-40 fix a sticking door?
Lubricant helps squeaky hinges but does not fix binding. Check for loose screws and swollen edges.
How much wood can be removed?
Only a small amount, since too much weakens the door and leaves a gap when humidity drops.