How to Repair Sticking Doors

A sticking door may be caused by heat or humidity, or perhaps simply by the building's settling over time. Follow these tips to solve the problem.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paints
• Belt Sanders
• Mortise Chisels
• Sandpaper
• Screwdriver Sets
• Sandpaper
• hammers , for use with chisel

1. Check to see that the hinges are tight. Loose hinges can cause a door to drag against the jam or on the threshold.

2. Replace old mounting screws with larger bore screws if the holes are worn or stripped. In some cases the hinges themselves may be worn and need to be replaced.

3. Determine where the door is sticking - at the threshold, the side, or the top. Mark the areas of drag with a pencil or chalk.

4. If the door is sticking at the top, bottom or sides, remove the door from the hinges and sand it very lightly where it sticks.

5. If the door is sticking on the contact plate of the lock, use a thinner plate or use a chisel to deepen the mortise it fits in.

6. Replace the door.

Tips & Warnings

• A belt sander with fine grit paper is likely to sand more evenly than you could by hand.
• You may not need to sand much at all to free the door.
• If you have seasonal swelling and choose to sand the door where it sticks in warm and humid months, you may have to add weather stripping for colder months.

[ezhangdoor]

on 4/26/2009 Some times a solid core or heavy door can be brought back into adjustment by inserting a 2-1/2" screw through the center hole in the top hinge. This screw will be driven into the wall stud. The weight of the door over time is what causes it to pull away from the wall and rub on the door frame.

[akendall]

on 1/20/2009 Instead of a belt sander, I use a planer on the vertical edge of the door. The planer will fray the edge if you run it on the top, so I usually use a saw or sander on the top/bottom of the door. I set the planer level to very low and remove a cap of paint. Then I check the door, and if it needs more, I remove another coat of paint with the planer. The planer is faster, lighter, easier to use and you smell less sawdust.

on 11/22/2005 If your door is not sticking too badly, try a small amount of liquid dish soap on the edge of the door and the door frame on the spot where it sticks. This works great for minor problems.