How to Repair the Front Door of a House
Homes that are built in cold or wet climates will sometimes develop problems with the front door of the house sticking. This is caused by the door or frame expanding because of condensation. The door will either not open or not close properly, which can cause heat loss and damage to the door frame. Steps can be taken to repair the front door of a house by sanding the door. Repairs may either involve fixing the hinges or sanding down the door or frame. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Level
- Screwdriver
- Drill
- Pencil
- Chalk
- Measuring tape
- Belt sander
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Instructions
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Fixing Hinges
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1
Open the door. Set the level on top of the door. If the liquid bubble of the level leans toward the hinges, the bottom hinge needs repair. If the bubble leans away from the hinges, the top hinge needs repair.
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2
Remove the door from the frame. Wedge the screwdriver in between the top hinge and the top of the bolt. Tap the screwdriver into place with the hammer. Use the hammer to tap on the bottom of the bolt, which loosens the bolt. Slide the bolt up and out of the hinge, releasing the door. Repeat this process with each hinge to completely remove the door.
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3
Unscrew the faulty hinge pieces from both the door and the frame using the screwdriver. Drill holes ¼ inch up from the current holes on both the door and frame. Screw the hinge pieces back into place. Put the door back into position and replace the bolt. Close the door to see if this fixes the problem. If the door still needs repair, go to the section labeled "Sanding the Door".
Sanding the Door
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4
Open and close the door multiple times to find where the door is sticking or pulling on the frame. Mark the position on both the frame and the door with the pencil. Close the door if possible to keep in heat and gather up the tools.
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5
Repeat Step 1 through Step 3 from the section labeled "Loose Hinges".
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6
Open the door again. Use the chalk to mark the spot where the door sticks to the frame by coating both the frame and the door; use contractor's chalk made for marking lines because it spreads easier and makes less mess than other chalks. Close the door as far as you can. Open the door wide. Look for where the chalk marked the door and the frame; this will tell you the areas where both need repair.
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7
Set the door down on either the front or back face. Use a measuring tape to measure along the short edge of the door ¼ inch into the door where the chalk marks are. Mark lines at the top and bottom of the area on the side facing up.
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8
Stand the door up on the side opposite to the chalk marks so the chalked side faces up. Sand down the area where the chalk marks are with the belt sander. Sand down to the ¼ inch marks made on the face of the door.
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9
Put the door back into position in the frame. Line up the hinge pieces for the bolt and slide the bolt back through the hinge.
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10
Check to see if the problem is solved by closing the door. If not, take the door back off and repeat Step 5. Continue with the process until the front door is repaired. Use ¼ inch measurement marks each time to avoid creating a gap that will allow air into the house.
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Tips & Warnings
Seal the edges of the door after it has been repaired and sanded down.
References
- Photo Credit front door of new condominium townhome image by Amy Myers from Fotolia.com
