Both interior and exterior doors suffer wear and tear.
Many homeowners don't realize just how much abuse their doors are subject to. Occupants may open and close these doors dozens of times a day, and both interior and exterior doors are often slammed or mistreated. Over time, doors may fail to operate correctly due to frequent use or abuse. Fortunately, it is easy to adjust most common door problems to restore the door's operation. By adjusting the hinges and other hardware devices, you can ensure the door swings, shuts and latches properly. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Adjusting Hinges
1. Examine the hinges on the door. The top hinge often comes loose because of the heavy amounts of force it faces. Use your drill to tighten all the screws in this hinge, then repeat this process for the remaining hinges. This should straighten the door out and prevent it from hanging unevenly or binding with the frame.
2. Check to make sure all the holes in each hinge have screws in them. Many installers fail to use all the screws provided with a set of hinges, and often skip some holes on each unit. Manufacturers design hinges to work with screws inserted in all holes, and the door will not hang properly if screws are missing. Add sheet metal screws (for metal frames) or wood screws (for wooden frames) until all holes in the hinges are filled.
3. Remove hinge filler plates as needed. Most steel doors and frames come with a standard hinge filler plate between the hinge and the door. If the door hits the frame when you try to close it, you can remove this plate to add a bit more space. Unscrew all fasteners in the hinge, then remove the hinge from the door. Lift the filler plate out and reattach the hinges, then test the door.
4. Shim hinges outward if the door will not close or latch. If there is too much space between the door and frame, the door likely won't stay closed. Unscrew the hinges and insert wooden shims behind each one. When you reinstall the screws, make sure they pass through the shims. This pushes the door closer to the lock strike and will help keep the door closed.
Adjusting the Lock Strike
5. Tighten all the screws holding the strike plate in place. Over time, this plate can come loose, which causes the door to bind. By tightening the plate or adding screws where they are missing, you create a bit of extra space between the door and the lock, which minimizes binding. Use wood screws if the frame is made of wood, or sheet metal screws for steel frames.
6. Shim the lock strike. If there is too much space between the strike and the edge of the door, the door will not latch properly. Remove the strike using your drill, then insert wooden shims between the frame and the strike plate. Reinstall the screws, making sure they pass through the shims.
7. Close the door and examine it. If the door appears level, and you've already adjusted the hinges and strike, you likely have a strike misalignment. This means that the latch bolt is not lined up with the hole in the strike plate. Use a metal file to enlarge this hole slightly, then test the door to see if it stays closed. Keep filing a bit and testing your door until the door latches successfully.
Tags: door will, space between, strike plate, between door, door door
