Common Types of Home Door Repair

There are many people who find a need for some type of home door repair. Most of the time it is due old doors or hardware being around for many years. The door in question probably has seen dents, bumps, bangs, and has most likely been taken off the hinges a time or two. Three of the most common situations in home door repair are listed below.

The Door Won’t Shut
Most of the time, a door not shutting is either that the hinges have worked loose, or the door or door frame has swelled. This is a minor home door repair and can be done in a short time. The first thing to check is to see that the hinges and their screws are tight. If the door sags, prop it up with a small block or book before tightening the screws. It may be necessary to drill out the hole and insert a dowel or toothpicks for a quick and easy fix. Check the door knob and door latch while working on the hinges.

If this doesn’t work, find where the door is sticking and nail 2”-3” nails through the frame into the stud. This will cause the frame to close up against the stud. While it may only be a small measurement, it could prove enough to solve the problem. If the door is wood, try to sand down a small amount where the door sticks. Do not sand too much since the door probably swelled and will shrink again with the drop in humidity. If the door is metal, you need to adjust the door jamb instead of the door. The Door Won’t Open

Most likely this type of home door repair will involve the hinges. Most doors, when level, will have a flat line to follow when moving. If the top hinge is not set properly, the door will tend to swing closed following a downward arc. If the bottom hinge is not set, the door will swing open following an upturned arc.

To make this repair, open the door and step into the doorway facing the hinges. If the top hinge is to the left or right of the bottom hinge, the door will swing in the direction of the top hinge. This means the hinges are not plumb. Simply moving the top hinge will solve this. If the house has settled somewhat, then this type of home door repair becomes one of taking the door out and reinstalling the door and frame.

The Drafty Door
Drafty doors, or doors that have air coming in around them, are a fairly easy home door repair. Usually the draft is caused by one of two situations, the weather-stripping around the door is old, worn and will need to be replaced; or the doorframe has begun to separate from the studs. If it is the weather-stripping that causes the problem, you may not have to remove the door, but simply pull off the stripping from the door. Then hammer down the old tacks so they are flush with the door. Measure and cut the new piece, and tack it into place.

If it is the frame, this home door repair is even simpler. You will still need to remove the door from its hinges. Afterwards, strategically placing new nails or tacks into the frame and nailing tightly into place will draw the frame back into place. While you are doing this, check the hinges to make sure they are tight with the frame so the door is hanging correctly.