How to Repair Front Doors
Front doors usually last many years. Sometimes though, you may have door problems. You can fix your door problems without having to replace the door. Two common issues are doors that stick or don't close properly or doors that don't latch well. Luckily, the fixes for these problems are simple. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Screwdrivers
- Longer screws
- Level
- Spray silicone lubricant
- Small wood chisel
Please enter your 10 digit phone number only.
A link to this article has been sent to the phone number provided.
Instructions
-
Sticky Doors
-
1
Inspect the door hinges. Often one or two of the original short screws that came with the hinges have pulled loose. This causes the door to sag and to stick or not close well. Remove the screws with the screwdriver.
-
2
Level the door with a helper holding the door for you while you install longer screws. Sometimes when a hinge pulls out, you may have to loosen the hinge on the opposite end of the door and place a small shim behind it. Put the longer screws through the hinge you are working on.
-
-
3
Tighten down any loose hinge screws. Often with time, these screws simply become loose.
Sticky Door Latch
-
4
Inspect the door lock and latch. Turn the knob one way and then the other to see if the latch is sticking.
-
5
Spray silicone lubricant into the latch hole and let it sit for about 15 minutes.
-
6
Open and close the door handle to make certain the door latch is now free and working properly.
-
7
Inspect the latch strike plate to make sure it is not loose or crooked. Sometimes these plates are put on without enough wood being removed from the edge of the door so they can sit flat. This can cause the strike plate to sit too high and the door latch can get stuck or be hard to open.
-
8
Remove the latch strike plate with the screwdriver and chisel out a bit more wood, using a wood chisel. Dry-fit the latch strike plate back on until it will sit flat. Retighten the screws down. Try to open and close the door a few times to make sure it works properly.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Wear eye protection, work gloves and kneepads.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit front door image by Derek Abbott from Fotolia.com
