We don’t care a lot about a well-functioning door, but we start to realize its true worth when it begins to annoy us by shutting or opening on its own. This could be due to improper installation, excessive door use, or improper alignment at the strike plate or latch or hinges.
Fixing a Door That Won’t Stay Open
If the door won’t stay open, then it is because of loose hinges. OrIf the door jamming is occurring, it could be a problem with the door jab. This is how to fix the problem permanently.
Tools You’ll Need
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- – Screwdriver;
- – door stopper;
- – hammer;
- – plumb line;
- – chisel;
- – vice.
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Step 1: Examining The Door Hinges
First of all, you need to examine the door hinges to see their condition. To support your door, you can either use a stopper or some magazines. Now tighten the hinges. Hopefully it will fix the problem. If it doesn’t, you can move on to the next stage.
Step 2: Inspecting Misalignment of The Door Hinges
Check the pin of the hinge to see if it is full of oil or grease. Get rid of any oil or grease. It is possible that the problem is caused by an over-greased or dirty door. You can check for misalignment in the hinges if that is not the problem.
Step 3: Fixing the Hinge Pin
Take out the hinge pin from one of the hinges and place it in a vice. You can now gently and steadily tap the hinge pin with a hammer. It should not be bent too much; a slight bend would suffice. Then, put the pin back into its hinge. You can repeat the whole process with additional hinge pins and hooks. To ensure that the door works correctly, test it. If it does not work properly, move on to the next step.
Step 4: Leveling All The Hinges
Use a door stopper to provide support to the door at the right level. Begin to loosen the hinge screws. A shim should be placed between the hinge and the frame of your door. To check the door’s alignment, tighten the door screws. If that doesn’t work, you can move on to the next step.
Step 5: Using a Chisel
Slow take away the door from the frame and remove hanging hinge screws. Use a chisel to begin digging into the areas where the hinges rest. If necessary, you may also need to replace the hinges. You can rehang the door by placing top pin first, bottompin second, and middlepin last. It will assist with alignment of the hinges. It will help align the hinges if it doesn’t work. It will repair your door that isn’t staying open.
Fixing A Door That Won’t Stay Closed
It is frustrating to have one door in the house that just won’t stay closed. These are the steps you need to take to fix the problem.
Step 1: Tighten The Hinges
Take a screwdriver and tighten the door hinges. Although it may not solve the problem, you should give it a go. Sometimes doors will not close due to loose hinges.
Step 2: Fix a Door Gap Problem
Shut the door to notice if there is a gap between frame and door along the side with the latch. The gap should be even from the top all the way to where it ends. You can fix the problem by removing screws from hinges that are closer to the gap. To fix the problem, you can also use cardboard Shims.
Step 3: Readjusting The Door Frame
The reason why the door barely catches the latch is that the gap between the frame and door is too wide. To access the shims, you can adjust the door by removing the trim from the latch side. You can use a 1/16 inch thick cardboard strip to slip behind each hinge. This will narrow the gap and resolve the problem.
Step 4: Fixing The Strike Plate Issue
Close the door to see if the latch is hitting the strike plate too high or too low. If there is any misalignment, you can simply use a filing tool to expand the strike plate’s hole.
Step 5: Removing The Strike Plate
If enlarging the hole in the strike plate doesn’t fix the problem, then it is best to remove the strike plate. After removing the strike plate, you can enlarge its shallow groove with a chisel. To check if the strike plate is properly aligned with latch, reattach it.
Step 6: Bending The Hinge Pin
If the door keeps on swinging open, then there is a high possibility it is because the door frame isn’t plumb. You don’t have to replace the door frame, which can be costly. Instead, you can do a simpler fix. Use a few scraps wood, a nail gun, a wrench, and a hammer to make the door frame. The shim should be placed between the jamb of the door and the hinge to allow you to remove the upper one. Turn the pin slightly to re-insert it. You can try again with the lower hinge if it fails.
The Bottom Line
For doors that won’t stay open, you need to fix loose hinges without wasting any time as it can lead to further complications. This is because the alignment of the door becomes more difficult over time. For doors that won’t stay closed, fixing the gap between the door and frame along the side of the latch will fix the problem without any hassle. You don’t need to call a professional to fix your door. Try it out, and if you don’t succeed, call a professional.
