How To Fix A Sagging And Rubbing Door That Won't Close! 5 Tips & Tricks That Works! DIY Tutorial!, by Fix This House on YouTube. 8 min 25 s.
- Video length
- 8 min 25 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Close the door slowly and watch where it drags. Look at the gap along the top and the hinge side, then mark the rub spot with a pencil.
Check the hinge screws first. Tighten any loose ones. If a screw spins in its hole, pack the hole with toothpicks and glue, then drive the screw back in.
For a door that has dropped, drive a 2 1/2 inch wood screw through the top hinge and into the wall framing behind it. Turn it slowly until the door lifts.
To lift the whole door, loosen the bottom hinge screws and slide a thin wooden shim behind the hinge plate. Tighten the screws back down.
If the door binds on the hinge side, bend the hinge knuckle slightly with a crescent wrench or hinge punch tool. Hold the door steady while you press.
When the door still rubs, mark the tight edge, take the door off its hinges and sand a thin pass with a belt sander or oscillating tool.
If the door hits the stop, chisel a small amount off the jamb with a 1 inch chisel and mini hammer. Work in light passes.
Hang the door again and close it. Check the gap and the latch, then repeat the fix that helped most if it still drags.
Tips and common mistakes
Fix one thing at a time and test the door after each change, so you know which fix worked.
Remove only a little wood or hinge bend at a time, because putting material back is much harder.
Wear safety glasses and gloves when sanding or chiselling, and keep fingers clear of the hinge gap.
Doors often swell and stick in damp weather, so check again in a drier season before cutting.
Questions
Why does my door rub only in summer?
Wood swells in humid air, so the door grows slightly and drags on the frame. Sanding a small amount off the rubbing edge usually solves it.
What if the hinge screw holes are stripped?
Fill each hole with toothpicks or wooden matches dipped in wood glue, let it set, then drive the screw back in. Use a longer screw if the hole is deep.
Do I need to take the door off its hinges?
Only for sanding or planing the edge. Hinge and shim fixes can be done with the door hanging in place.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
