How to Fix a Door That Won't Stay Open
If you have a door that won't stay open, you most likely have uneven hinges. There are various reasons that hinges get out of alignment. When it happens, doors often won't stay open. Typically, this occurs because the screws on the bottom hinge are too loose. However, there are other reasons. Learning how to adjust it is a little bit of trial and error until the issue corrects itself. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Check the hinges for any loose screws and tighten them. If the screws won't tighten, you may need to replace them with longer screws. This may be enough to fix the door.
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2
With your door closed, look at the hinges to see if they are level. One should be leaning in, toward the door, and one should be leaning away, toward the frame.
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3
Open the door and loosen the screws on one-half of the door hinge that is closest to the door frame. It doesn't matter which half of the hinge you loosen, but pick the one that is least visible.
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4
Slip a shim between the hinge and the screws to push the hinge toward the doorway.
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5
Tighten the screws on the hinge. Retest the door.
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6
If the door still will not stay open, repeat Steps 3 through 5. If this is not possible, you will need to adjust the other hinge.
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To adjust the other hinge, remove the door from the frame. This can be done my unscrewing the hinges or removing the hinge pin (the pin that connects the two halves of each hinge).
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8
Remove the screws from the hinge that is furthest from the door frame.
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9
Deepen the area where the hinge sits, known as the mortise, with a chisel.
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10
Replace the hinge and hinge screws.
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11
Rehang the door.
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Tips & Warnings
Adjustments can make your door appear not to be level and change the way it latches.
